‘Well, Beatrice—­’

‘But, mamma, I don’t understand.’

Lady Arabella had said that she could not exactly explain:  but she found it necessary to attempt to do so.

’Dr Thorne has openly declared to me that a marriage between poor Frank and Mary is all he could desire for his niece.  After such unparalleled audacity as that, even your father will see the necessity of breaking with him.’

‘Dr Thorne!  Oh, mamma, you must have misunderstood him.’

’My dear, I am not apt to misunderstand people; especially when I am so much in earnest as I was in talking to Dr Thorne.’

‘But, mamma, I know so well what Mary herself thinks about it.’

’And I know what Dr Thorne thinks about it; he, at any rate, has been candid in what he said; there can be no doubt on earth that he has spoken his true thoughts; there can be no reason to doubt him; of course such a match would be all that he could wish.’

‘Mamma, I feel sure that there is some mistake.’

’Very well, my dear.  I know that you are infatuated about these people, and that you are always inclined to contradict what I say to you; but, remember, I expect that you will obey me when I tell you not to go to Dr Thorne’s house any more.’

‘But, mamma—­’

’I expect you to obey me, Beatrice.  Though you are so prone to contradict, you have never disobeyed me; and I fully trust that you will not do so now.’

Lady Arabella had begun by exacting, or trying to exact a promise, but as she found that this was not forthcoming, she thought it better to give up the point without a dispute.  It might be that Beatrice would absolutely refuse to pay this respect to her mother’s authority, and then where would she have been?

At this moment a servant came up to say that the squire was in his room, and Lady Arabella was opportunely saved the necessity of discussing the matter further with her daughter.  ‘I am now,’ she said, ’going to see your father on the same subject; you may be quite sure, Beatrice that I should not willingly speak to him on any matter relating to Dr Thorne did I not find it absolutely necessary to do so.’

This Beatrice knew was true, and she did therefore feel convinced that something terrible must have happened.

While Lady Arabella opened her budget the squire sat quite silent, listening to her with appropriate respect.  She found it necessary that her description to him should be much more elaborate than that which she had vouchsafed to her daughter, and, in telling her grievance, she insisted most especially on the personal insult which had been offered to herself.

‘After what has now happened,’ said she, not quite able to repress a tone of triumph as she spoke, ’I do expect, Mr Gresham, that you will—­will—­’

‘Will what, my dear?’

‘Will at least protect me from the repetition of such treatment.’