’But suppose it should lead to renewed intercourse between Frank and Mary?’

’I have no objection.  Frank is a very nice young fellow, gentlemanlike in his manners, and neighbourly in his disposition.’

‘Dr Thorne—­’

‘Lady Arabella—­’

‘I cannot believe that you really intend to express a wish—­’

’You are quite right.  I have not intended to express any wish; nor do I intend to do so.  Mary is at liberty, within certain bounds—­which I am sure she will not pass—­to choose her own friends.  I think she has not chosen badly as regards Miss Beatrice Gresham; and should she even add Frank Gresham to the number—­’

‘Friends! why they were more than friends; they were declared lovers.’

’I doubt that, Lady Arabella, because I have not heard of it from Mary.  But even if it were so, I do not see why I should object.’

‘Not object!’

’As I said before, Frank is, to my thinking, an excellent young man.  Why should I object?’

‘Dr Thorne!’ said her ladyship, now also rising from her chair in a state of too evident perturbation.

’Why should I object?  It is for you, Lady Arabella, to look after your lambs; for me to see that, if possible, no harm shall come to mine.  If you think that Mary is an improper acquaintance for your children, it is for you to guide them; for you and their father.  Say what you think fit to your own daughter; but pray understand, once for all, that I will allow no one to interfere with my niece.’

‘Interfere!’ said Lady Arabella, now absolutely confused by the severity of the doctor’s manner.

’I will allow no one to interfere with her; no one, Lady Arabella.  She has suffered very greatly from imputations which you have most unjustly thrown on her.  It was, however, your undoubted right to turn her out of your house if you thought fit;—­though, as a woman who had known her for so many years, you might, I think, have treated her with more forbearance.  That, however, was your right, and you exercised it.  There your privilege stops; yes, and must stop, Lady Arabella.  You shall not persecute her here, on the only spot of ground she can call her own.’

’Persecute her, Dr Thorne!  You do not mean to say that I have persecuted her?’

’Ah! but I do mean to say so.  You do persecute her, and would continue to do so did I not defend her.  It is not sufficient that she is forbidden to enter your domain—­and so forbidden with the knowledge of all the country round—­but you must come here also with the hope of interrupting all the innocent pleasures of her life.  Fearing lest she should be allowed even to speak to your son, to hear of word of him through his own sister, you would put her in prison, tie her up, keep her from the light of day—­’

‘Dr Thorne! how can you—­’

But the doctor was not to be interrupted.