She had a strong idea that she would ultimately prevail,—­and idea also that that ‘ultimately’ should not be postponed to some undefined middle-aged period in her life.  As she intended to belong to Frank Tregear, she thought it expedient that he should have the best of her days as well as what might be supposed to be the worst; and she therefore resolved that it would be her duty to make her father understand that though she would certainly obey him, she would look to be treated humanely by him, and not to be made miserable for an indefinite term of years.

The first word spoken between them on the subject,—­the first word after that discussion, began with him and was caused by his feeling that her present life at Matching must be sad and lonely.  Lady Cantrip had again written that she would be delighted to take her;—­but Lady Cantrip was in London and must be in London, at any rate when Parliament would again be sitting.  A London life would perhaps, at present, hardly suit Lady Mary.  Then a plan had been prepared which might be convenient.  The Duke had a house at Richmond, on the river, called The Horns.  That should be lent to Lady Cantrip, and Mary should there be her guest.  So it was settled between the Duke and Lady Cantrip.  But as yet Lady Mary knew nothing of the arrangement.

‘I think I shall go up to town tomorrow,’ said the Duke to his daughter.

‘For long?’

’I shall be gone only one night.  It is on your behalf that I am going.’

‘On my behalf, papa?’

‘I have been writing to Lady Cantrip.’

‘Not about Mr Tregear?’

‘No;—­not about Mr Tregear,’ said the father with a mixture of anger and solemnity in his tone.  ’It is my desire to regard Mr Tregear as though he did not exist.’

‘That is not possible, papa.’

‘I have alluded to the inconvenience of your position here.’

‘Why is it inconvenience?’

’You are too young to be without a companion.  It is not fit that you should be much alone.’

‘I do not feel it.’

’It is very melancholy for you, and cannot be good for you.  They will go down to The Horns so that you will not be absolutely in London, and you will find Lady Cantrip a very nice person.’

‘I don’t care for new people just now, papa,’ she said.  But to this he paid but little heed; nor was she prepared to say that she would not do as he directed.  When therefore he left Matching, she understood that he was going to prepare a temporary home for her.  Nothing further was said about Tregear.  She was too proud to ask that no mention of his name should be made to Lady Cantrip.  And he when he left the house did not think that he would find himself called upon to allude to the subject.

But when Lady Cantrip made some inquiry about the girl and her habits,—­asking what were her ordinary occupations, how she was accustomed to pass her hours, to what she chiefly devoted herself,—­then at last with much difficulty the Duke did bring himself to tell the story.  ’Perhaps it is better that you should know it all,’ he said as he told it.