But on the present occasion he went through his meal
like a Spartan, and retired from the room without a sign of
surrender. In the afternoon about five o'clock Mary watched her
opportunity and found him again alone. It was incumbent on her to
reply to Lady Ushant. Would it not be better that she should write
and say how sorry she was that she could not come? "But I want you
to go," said he.
"Oh, papa;--I cannot bear to cause trouble."
"No, my dear; no; and I'm sure I don't like trouble myself. But in
this case I think you ought to go. What day has she named?" Then
Mary declared that she could not possibly go so soon as Lady Ushant
had suggested, but that she could be ready by the 18th of December.
"Then write and tell her so, my dear, and I will let your mother
know that it is fixed." But Mary still hesitated, desiring to know
whether she had not better speak to her mother first. "I think you
had better write your letter first,"--and then he absolutely made
her write it in the office and give it to him to be posted. After
that he promised to communicate to Reginald Morton what had been
done.
The household was very much disturbed the whole of that evening.
Poor Mary never remembered such a state of things, and when there
had been any difference of opinion, she had hitherto never been the
cause of it.
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