He said his word to Runciman, and so
loitered away perhaps a quarter of an hour, and then went back to
his office. But his wife had kept her anger at burning heat and
pounced upon him before he had taken his seat. Sundown was there
copying, sitting with his eyes intent on the board before him as
though he were quite unaware of the sudden entrance of his master's
wife. She in her fury did not regard Sundown in the least, but at
once commenced her attack. "What is all this, Mr. Masters," she
said, "about Lady Ushant and going to Cheltenham? I won't have any
going to Cheltenham and that's flat" Now the attorney had
altogether made up his mind that his daughter should go to
Cheltenham if her friend would receive her. Whatever might be the
consequences, they must be borne. But he thought it best to say
nothing at the first moment of the attack, and simply turned his
sorrowful round face in silence up to the partner of all his cares
and the source of so many of them. "There have been letters,"
continued the lady;--"letters which nobody has told me nothing
about. That proud peacock from Hoppet Hall has been here, as though
he had nothing to do but carry Mary away about the country just as
he pleased. Mary won't go to Cheltenham with him nor yet without
him;--not if I am to remain here."
"Where else should you remain, my dear?" asked the attorney.
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