‘No, aunt; I didn’t write them.  I shouldn’t know how.’

’And I hope you’ll never learn.  They say women are to vote, and become doctors, and if so, there’s no knowing what devil’s tricks they mayn’t do.  But it isn’t your fault about that filthy newspaper.  How he can let himself down to write stuff that is to be printed on straw is what I can’t understand.’

‘I don’t see how it can make a difference as he writes it.’

’It would make a great deal of difference to me.  And I’m told that what they call ink comes off on your fingers like lamp-black.  I never touched one, thank God; but they tell me so.  All the same; it isn’t your fault.’

‘I’ve nothing to do with it, Aunt Stanbury.’

’Of course you’ve not.  And as he is your brother it wouldn’t be natural that you should like to throw him off.  And, my dear, I like you for taking his part.  Only you needn’t have been so fierce with an old woman.’

‘Indeed indeed I didn’t mean to be fierce, Aunt Stanbury.’

’I never was taken up so short in my life.  But we won’t mind that.  There; he shall come and see you.  I suppose he won’t insist on leaving any of his nastiness about.’

‘But is he to come here, Aunt Stanbury?’

‘He may if he pleases.’

‘Oh, Aunt Stanbury!’

’When he was here last he generally had a pipe in his mouth, and I dare say he never puts it down at all now.  Those things grow upon young people so fast.  But if he could leave it on the door-step just while he’s here I should be obliged to him.’

‘But, dear aunt, couldn’t I see him in the street?’

’Out in the street!  No, my dear.  All the world is not to know that he’s your brother; and he is dressed in such a rapscallion manner that the people would think you were talking to a house-breaker.’  Dorothy’s face became again red as she heard this, and the angry words were very nearly spoken.  ‘The last time I saw him,’ continued Miss Stanbury, ’he had on a short, rough jacket, with enormous buttons, and one of those flipperty-flopperty things on his head, that the butcher-boys wear.  And, oh, the smell of tobacco!  As he had been up in London I suppose he thought Exeter was no better than a village, and he might do just as he pleased.  But he knew that if I’m particular about anything, it is about a gentleman’s hat in the streets.  And he wanted me me to walk with him across to Mrs MacHugh’s!  We should have been hooted about the Close like a pair of mad dogs and so I told him.’

‘All the young men seem to dress like that now, Aunt Stanbury.’

‘No, they don’t.  Mr Gibson doesn’t dress like that.’

‘But he’s a clergyman, Aunt Stanbury.’

’Perhaps I’m an old fool.  I dare say I am, and of course that’s what you mean.  At any rate I’m too old to change, and I don’t mean to try.  I like to see a difference between a gentleman and a house-breaker.  For the matter of that I’m told that there is a difference, and that the house-breakers all look like gentlemen now.  It may be proper to make us all stand on our heads, with our legs sticking up in the air; but I for one don’t like being topsy-turvey, and I won’t try it.  When is he to reach Exeter?’