My aunt, Lady Ushant,
is very anxious that your daughter Mary should return to her at
Cheltenham for a while." The proposition to Mrs. Masters' thinking
was so monstrous, and was at the same time so unexpected, that it
almost took away her breath. At any rate she stood for a moment
speechless. "My aunt is very fond of your daughter," he continued,
"and if she can be spared would be delighted to have her. Perhaps
she has written to Miss Masters, but she has asked me to come over
and see if it can be arranged."
"It cannot be arranged," said Mrs. Masters. "Nothing of the kind
can be arranged."
"I am sorry for that"
"It is only disturbing the girl, and upsetting her, and filling her
head full of nonsense. What is she to do at Cheltenham? This is her
home and here she had better be." Though things had hitherto gone
very badly, though Larry Twentyman had not shown himself since the
receipt of the letter, still Mrs. Masters had not abandoned all
hope. She was fixed in opinion that if her husband were joined with
her they could still, between them, so break the girl's spirit as
to force her into a marriage. "As for letters," she continued, "I
don't know anything about them. There may have been letters but if
so they have been kept from me. "She was so angry that she could
not even attempt to conceal her wrath.
Pages:
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473