Trevelyan, finding it impossible to get rid of her, had stood quietly, while he listened to her.’she has been good to my child,’ he said.  ’I acknowledge it.  As for myself, I have not been well.  It is true.  But I am told that travel will set me on my feet again.  Change of air will do it.’  Not long since he had been urging the wretchedness of his own bodily health as a reason why his wife should yield to him; but now, when his sickness was brought as a charge against him, was adduced as a reason why his friends should interfere, and look after him and concern themselves in his affairs, he saw at once that it was necessary that he should make little of his ailments.

’Would it not be best, Trevelyan, that you should come with me to a doctor?’ said Sir Marmaduke.

’No no.  I have my own doctor.  That is, know the course which I should follow.  This place, though it is good for the boy, has disagreed with me, and my life has not been altogether pleasant—­I may say, by no means pleasant.  Troubles have told upon me, but change of air will mend it all.’

’I wish you would come with me, at once, to London.  You shall come back, you know.  I will not detain you.’

‘Thank you no.  I will not trouble you’.  That will do, Mrs Fuller.  You have intended to do your duty, no doubt, and now you can go.’  Whereupon Mrs Fuller did go.  ’I am obliged for your care, Sir Marmaduke, but I can really do very well without troubling you.’

’You cannot suppose, Trevelyan, that we can allow things to go on like this.’

‘And what do you mean to do?’

’Well I shall take advice.  I shall go to a lawyer and to a doctor, and perhaps to the Lord Chancellor, and all that kind of thing.  We can’t let things go on like this.’

‘You can do as you please,’ said Trevelyan, ’but as you have threatened me, I must ask you to leave me.’

Sir Marmaduke could do no more, and could say no more, and he took his leave, shaking hands with the man, and speaking to him with a courtesy which astonished himself.  It was impossible to maintain the strength of his indignation against a poor creature who was so manifestly unable to guide himself.  But when he was in London he drove at once to the house of Dr Trite Turbury, and remained there till the doctor returned from his round of visits.  According to the great authority, there was much still to be done before even the child could be rescued out of the father’s hands.  ‘I can’t act without the lawyers,’ said Dr Turbury.  But he explained to Sir Marmaduke what steps should be taken in such a matter.

Trevelyan, in the mean time, clearly understanding that hostile measures would now be taken against him, set his mind to work to think how best he might escape at once to America with his boy.’

CHAPTER LXX

SHEWING WHAT NORA ROWLEY THOUGHT ABOUT CARRIAGES