"
"If you have got anything to say you had better talk to your
father. I know nothing about it"
"You break my heart when you say that, mamma."
"You think nothing about breaking mine;--or that young man's who is
behaving so well to you. What makes me mad is to see you
shilly-shallying with him."
"Mamma, I haven't shilly-shallied."
"That's what I call it. Why can't you speak him fair and tell him
you'll have him and settle yourself down properly? You've got some
idea into your silly head that what you call a gentleman will come
after you."
"Mamma, that isn't fair."
"Very well, miss. As your father takes your part of course you can
say what you please to me. I say it is so." Mary knew very well
what her another meant and was safe at least from any allusion to
Reginald Morton. There was an idea prevalent in the house, and not
without some cause, that Mr. Surtees the curate had looked with an
eye of favour on Mary Masters. Mr. Surtees was certainly a
gentleman, but his income was strictly limited to the sum of 120
pounds per annum which he received from Mr. Mainwaring. Now Mrs.
Masters disliked clergymen, disliked gentlemen, and especially
disliked poverty; and therefore was not disposed to look upon Mr.
Surtees as an eligible suitor for her stepdaughter. But as the
curate's courtship had hitherto been of the coldest kind and as it
had received no encouragement from the young lady, Mary was
certainly justified in declaring that the allusion was not fair.
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