’I don’t mean about that; but I am not sure whether I ought to stand up for her.  You see the man is really good at heart, and religious, and he is taking out this chaplain.  The climate, mountains, and sea might really suit her health, and she could have all kinds of comforts and luxuries; and if she can get over his birth, and the want of fine edge of his manners, I don’t know that we have any right to set ourselves against it.’

’I should have thought those objections would have weighed most of all with her.’

’And I do believe that if the whole family are unanimous in scouting the very idea, she will give it up.  She is proud of Mohun blood, and the Rotherwood connection and all, and if there were a desperate opposition—–­well, she would be rather flattered, and give in; but I am not sure that she would not always regret it, and pine after what she might have had.’

‘Rotherwood likes the man.’

‘Like—–­but that’s not liking him to marry his cousin.’

‘Rotherwood will not be the person most shocked.’

’No.  We shall have a terrible time, however it ends.  Oh.  I wish it was all over!’

‘Do you think she really cares for the man—–­loves him, in fact?’

’My dear Lily, if Ada ever was in love with anybody, it was with Harry May, and that was all pure mistake.  I never told anybody, but I believe it was that which upset her health.  But they are both too old to concern themselves about such trifles.  He does not expect it!’

‘I have seen good strong love in a woman over forty.’

’Yes; but this is quite another thing.  A lady of the house wanted!  That’s the motive.  I should not wonder if he came home as much to look for a lady-wife as to set the Stebbings to rights; or, if not, he is driven to it by having the Whites on his hands.’

’I don’t quite see that.  I was going to ask you how it would affect them.’

’Well, you see, though she is perfectly willing and anxious to begin again, poor dear Kally really can’t.  She did try to arrange a design that had been running in her head for a long time, and she was so bad after it that Dr. Dagger said she must not attempt it.  Then, though she is discreet enough for anything, Mr. White is not really her uncle, and could not take her about with him alone or even with Maura; so I gather from some expressions in his letter that he would like to take her out with them, spend the summer at Rocca Marina, and let her have a winter’s study at Florence.  Then, I suppose she might come back and superintend on quite a different footing.

‘So he wants Ada as a chaperon for Kalliope?’

’That is an element in the affair, and not a bad one, and I don’t think Ada will object.  She won’t be left entirely to his companionship.’

‘My dear Jane!  Then I’m sure she ought not to marry him!’ cried Lady Merrifield indignantly.  ‘Here comes Jasper.  May I tell him?’