The only person who was strongly against his departure was Lady Cranford: while Richard and Agnes accepted it calmly and understandingly, his mother reproached him with selfishness all evening and repeated again and again that Alexandra, Agnes's younger sister, was to come to Devry the other day.

– That girl is only coming to meet you! – exclaimed Lady Cranford, walking round her son's chamber, where two maids were packing his things for the journey.

– 'I did not invite her, mother. You did, and here you are making excuses for my absence," said Anthony indifferently. – I am leaving tomorrow morning and taking one of our carriages.

– My carriages, my dear," said the Countess, with an emphasis on the first word, and the phrase made the young man smile disappointedly.

– Your carriages, ma'am," he repeated coldly. – Don't worry, I will ask Richard to give me one of his carriages at once, and both of yours will stay with you.

– Well, why do you punish me so? "Ma'am"! Not Mother! Anthony, you're breaking my heart! – Lady Cranford raised her hands theatrically to heaven and shook her head. – 'And what are you going to do in London?

– To live my life and my home," her son replied. – Now, I must ask you to leave my room.

– I will not leave this place until you tell me that you will give up this ridiculous idea of going back to London! – Lady Cranford said firmly, and crossed her arms over her breast.

– As you wish, ma'am," Anthony grinned mockingly, and left his chambers to find his brother and ask for a carriage, horses, and coachman to take him to the capital.

– Well, all right! Take my carriage! But stop calling me "ma'am"! – he immediately heard his mother's voice behind him.

– Thank you, ma'am. I'll be fine," Anthony said shortly, and paid no attention to the moaning and complaints thrown back at him.

Fortunately, Richard did not persist and gave his brother what he asked without question or condition.

The next morning, after a fervent farewell to his nephews, his brother and his wife, Anthony left for London.

Lady Cranford did not come out to say good-bye to her son, but watched with eyes wet with tears of disappointment as the carriage carried him away from the estate.

"Ungrateful! How much suffering I have endured, and all for you, my dear boys! I have had to correct your mistake, but of course you don't know it, my Anthony. And you never will! Do you think I'm a bad mother? Well, that's your right, but that won't make me not worry about you!" – she thought bitterly.

This time the journey took Anthony only a fortnight, for the young, sharp horses lent by Richard easily carried the rather light, latest model carriage with thin wheels. He reached Greenhall late at night, and had to wait about a quarter of an hour for one of the servants to open the front doors for him. Ordered not to unload his suitcases, as Anthony was going to finally find an apartment and leave his father's house the next day, the young man went up to his chambers, threw off his travelling suit, and gladly climbed into his own bed, under his own warm blanket. Having slept fitfully until noon the next day, Anthony summoned his valet, who helped him to dress in an elegant travelling suit, then took a quick lunch, and, full of impatience and delight at seeing Charlotte, ordered his horse to be brought to him.

The horse, on seeing his master, greeted him with a merry neigh.

– Shall I expect you for dinner, Mr. Cranford? – Mr. Brown, the butler, asked courteously as he saw Anthony off.

– I don't think so," said the young man, and, despite his warm, long cloak, designed for the cold, windy November weather, he climbed nimbly onto the shiny back of his horse. – But I need your help, Mr. Brown. Is there no one in your circle who can help me find a cosy, spacious apartment?