In the meantime, Mr Gibson was completely subject to the individual charms of Arabella.  Camilla had been quite correct in a part of her description of their intimacy.  She and her sister had known Mr Gibson for seven or eight years; but nevertheless the intimacy could not with truth be said to have commenced during the infancy of the young ladies, even if the word were used in its legal sense.  Seven or eight years, however, is a long acquaintance; and there was, perhaps, something of a real grievance in this Stanbury intervention.  If it be a recognised fact in society that young ladies are in want of husbands, and that an effort on their part towards matrimony is not altogether impossible, it must be recognised also that failure will be disagreeable, and interference regarded with animosity.  Miss Stanbury the elder was undoubtedly interfering between Mr Gibson and the Frenches; and it is neither manly nor womanly to submit to interference with one’s dearest prospects.  It may, perhaps, be admitted that the Miss Frenches had shown too much open ardour in their pursuit of Mr Gibson.  Perhaps there should have been no ardour and no pursuit.  It may be that the theory of womanhood is right which forbids to women any such attempts, which teaches them that they must ever be the pursued, never the pursuers.  As to that there shall be no discourse at present.  But it must be granted that whenever the pursuit has been attempted, it is not in human nature to abandon it without an effort.  That the French girls should be very angry with Miss Stanbury, that they should put their heads together with the intention of thwarting her, that they should think evil things of poor Dorothy, that they should half despise Mr Gibson, and yet resolve to keep their hold upon him as a chattel and a thing of value that was almost their own, was not perhaps much to their discredit.

‘You are a good deal at the house in the Close now,’ said Arabella, in her lowest voice, in a voice so low that it was almost melancholy.

’Well; yes.  Miss Stanbury, you know, has always been a staunch friend of mine.  And she takes an interest in my little church.’  People say that girls are sly; but men can be sly, too, sometimes.

‘It seems that she has taken you so much away from us, Mr Gibson.’

‘I don’t know why you should say that, Miss French.’

’Perhaps I am wrong.  One is apt to be sensitive about one’s friends.  We seem to have known you so well.  There is nobody else in Exeter that mamma regards as she does you.  But, of course, if you are happy with Miss Stanbury that is everything.’

‘I am speaking of the old lady,’ said Mr Gibson, who, in spite of his slyness, was here thrown a little off his guard.

‘And I am speaking of the old lady too,’ said Arabella.  ’Of whom else should I be speaking?’

‘No, of course not.’