It might be that the books of
poetry and the modes of thought which his wife described as
"Ushanting" were of a nature to pervert his girl's mind from the
material necessities of life and that a little hardship would bring
her round to a more rational condition. With a very heavy heart he
consented to do his part,--which was to consist mainly of silence.
Any words which might be considered expedient were to come from his
wife.
Three or four days went on in this way, which were days of absolute
misery to Mary. She soon perceived and partly understood her
father's silence. She knew at any rate that for the present she was
debarred from his confidence. Her mother did not say much, but what
she did say was all founded on the theory that Ushanting and
softness in general are very bad for young women. Even Dolly and
Kate were hard to her,--each having some dim idea that Mary was to
be coerced towards Larry Twentyman and her own good. At the end of
that time, when Mary had been at home nearly a week, Larry came as
usual on the Saturday evening. She, well knowing his habit, took
care to be out of the way. Larry, with a pleasant face, asked after
her, and expressed a hope that she had enjoyed herself at
Cheltenham.
"A nasty idle place where nobody does anything as I believe," said
Mrs. Masters. Larry received a shock from the tone of the lady's
voice.
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