‘Then of course we must go,’ said Mrs Trevelyan, who had gulped down her sobs and was resolved to be firm, to give way to no more tears, to bear all without sign of womanly weakness.

‘You will stay with us till your father comes,’ said Priscilla.

‘Of course you will,’ said Mrs Stanbury ’you and Nora.  We have got to be such friends, now.’

‘No,’ said Mrs Trevelyan.  ’As to friendship for me, it is out of the question.  We must pack up, Nora, and go somewhere.  Heaven knows where!’

Nora was now sobbing.  ’Why your brother should want to turn us out after he has sent us here !’

‘My brother wants nothing of the kind,’ said Priscilla.  ’Your sister has no better friend than my brother.’

‘It will be better, Nora, to discuss the matter no further,’ said Mrs Trevelyan.  ’We must go away somewhere; and the sooner the better.  To be an unwelcome guest is always bad; but to be unwelcome for such a reason as this is terrible.’

‘There is no reason,’ said Mrs Stanbury; ‘indeed there is none.’

‘Mrs Trevelyan will understand us better when she is less excited,’ said Priscilla.  ’I am not surprised that she should be indignant now.  I can only say again that we hope you will stay with us till Sir Marmaduke Rowley shall be in England.’

‘That is not what your brother means,’ said Nora.

‘Nor is it what I mean,’ said Mrs Trevelyan.  ’Nora, we had better go to our own room.  I suppose I must write to my husband; indeed, of course I must, that I may send him the the correspondence.  I fear I cannot walk out into the street, Mrs Stanbury, and make you quit of me till I hear from him.  And if I were to go to an inn at once, people would speak evil of me and I have no money.’

‘My dear, how can you think of such a thing!’ said Mrs Stanbury.

’But you may be quite sure that we shall be gone within three days or four at the furthest.  Indeed, I will pledge myself not to remain longer than that even though I should have to go to the poor-house.  Neither I nor my sister will stay in any family to contaminate it.  Come, Nora.’  And so speaking she sailed out of the room, and her sister followed her.

’Why did you say anything about, it?  Oh dear, oh dear! why did you speak to Hugh?  See what you have done?’

‘I am sorry that I did speak,’ replied Priscilla, slowly.

‘Sorry!  Of course you are sorry; but what good is that?’

’But, mother; I do not think that I was wrong.  I feel sure that the real fault in all this is with Mr Trevelyan as it has been all through.  He should not have written to her as he has done.’

‘I suppose Hugh did tell him.’

’No doubt and I told Hugh; but not after the fashion in which he has told her.  I blame myself mostly for this that we ever consented to come to this house.  We had no business here.  Who is to pay the rent?’

‘Hugh insisted upon taking it.’