" But Mr. Masters would not assent to this
plan of breaking his girl's spirit, and so there was continual war
in the place and every one there was miserable.
Mary herself was so unhappy that she convinced herself that it was
necessary that some change should be made. Then she remembered Lady
Ushant's offer of a home, and not only the offer, but the old
lady's assurance that to herself such an arrangement, if possible,
would be very comfortable. She did not suggest to herself that she
would leave her father's home for ever and always; but it might be
that an absence of some months might relieve the absolute misery of
their present mode of living. The effect on her father was so sad
that she was almost driven to regret that he should have taken her
own part. Her stepmother was not a bad woman; nor did Mary even now
think her to be had. She was a hardworking, painstaking wife, with
a good general idea of justice. In the division of puddings and
pies and other material comforts of the household she would deal
evenly between her own children and her step-daughter. She had not
desired to send Mary away to an inadequate home, or with a
worthless husband. But when the proper home and the proper man were
there she was prepared to use any amount of hardship to secure
these good things to the family generally.
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