This hardship Mary could
not endure, nor could Mary's father on her behalf, and therefore
Mary prepared a letter to Lady Ushant in which, at great length,
she told her old friend the whole story. She spoke as tenderly as
was possible of all concerned, but declared that her stepmother's
feelings on the subject were so strong that every one in the house
was made wretched. Under these circumstances,--for her father's
sake if only for that,--she thought herself bound to leave the
house. "It is quite impossible," she said, "that I should do as
they wish me. That is a matter on which a young woman must judge
for herself. If you could have me for a few months it would perhaps
all pass by. I should not dare to ask this but for what you said
yourself; and, dear Lady Ushant, pray remember that I do not want
to be idle. There are a great many things I can do; and though I
know that nothing can pay for kindness, I might perhaps be able not
to be a burden." Then she added in a postscript--"Papa is
everything that is kind;--but then all this makes him so
miserable!"
When she had kept the letter by her for a day she showed it to her
father, and by his consent it was sent. After much consultation it
was agreed between them that nothing should be said about it to
Mrs. Masters till the answer should come; and that, should the
answer be favourable, the plan should be carved out in spite of any
domestic opposition.
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