In the house at Dillsborough things
were almost as bad as they were with him. Over and over again Mrs.
Masters told her husband that it was all his fault, and that if he
had torn the letter when it was showed to him, everything would
have been right by the end of the two months. This he bore with
what equanimity he could, shutting himself up very much in his
office, occasionally escaping for a quarter of an hour of ease to
his friends at the Bush, and eating his meals in silence. But when
he became aware that his girl was being treated with cruelty,--that
she was never spoken to by her stepmother without harsh words, and
that her sisters were encouraged to be disdainful to her, then his
heart rose within him and he rebelled. He declared aloud that Mary
should not be persecuted, and if this kind of thing were continued
he would defend his girl let the consequences be what they might.
"What are you going to defend her against?" asked his wife.
"I won't have her ill-used because she refuses to marry at your
bidding."
"Bah! You know as much how to manage a girl as though you were an
old maid yourself. Cocker her up and make her think that nothing is
good enough for her! Break her spirit, and make her come round, and
teach her to know what it is to have an honest man's house offered
to her. If she don't take Larry Twentyman's she's like to have none
of her own before long.
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