‘Inducements, indeed!’ said Mr. Ferrars.  ’And she could not be incited by any of these?’

‘No,’ said Gilbert, ’she would not hear of leaving the old women.  She was only afraid it would vex Mrs. Kendal, and she could not bear not to take the advice of so kind a friend, she said.  You are not going to be angry with her,’ he added.

‘No,’ said Albinia, ’one cannot but honour her motives, though I think she is mistaken; and I am sorry for her; but she knows better than to be afraid of me.’

With which assurance Gilbert quitted the room, and the next moment, hearing the front door, she exclaimed, ’I do believe he is gone to tell her how I took the announcement.’

Maurice gave a significant ‘Hem!’ to which his sister replied, ‘Nonsense!’

‘Very romantic consolations and confidences.’

’Not at all.  They have been used to each other all their lives, and he used to be the only person who knew how to behave to her, so no wonder they are great friends.  As to anything else, she is nineteen, and he not sixteen.’

’One great use of going to school is to save lads from that silly pastime.  I advise you to look to these moonlight escortings!’

’One would think you were an old dowager, Maurice.  I suppose Colonel Bury may not escort Miss Mary.’

‘Ah, Albinia, you are a very naughty child still.’

’Of course, when you are here to keep me in order, I wish I never were so at other times when it is not so safe.’

Mr. Kendal was kind and civil to Captain Pringle, and though the boisterous manner seemed to affect him like a thunderstorm, Maria imagined they were delighted with one another.

Maria was strangely serene and happy; her querulous, nervous manner smoothed away, as if rest had come to her at last; and even if the renewed intercourse were only to result in a friendship, there was hope that the troubled spirit had found repose now that misunderstandings were over, and the sore sense of ill-usage appeased.

Yet Albinia was startled when one day Mr. Kendal summoned her, saying, ‘It is all over, she has refused him!’

‘Impossible; she could only have left half her sentence unsaid.’

‘Too certain.  She will not leave her mother.’

‘Is that all?’

’Of course it is.  He told me the whole affair, and certainly Mr. Meadows was greatly to blame.  He let Maria give this man every encouragement, believing his property larger, and his expectations more secure than was the case; and when the proposal was made, having discovered his mistake, he sent a peremptory refusal, giving him reason to suppose her a party to the rejection.  Captain Pringle sailed in anger; but it appears that his return has revived his former feelings, and that he has found out that poor Maria was a greater sufferer than himself.’

‘Why does he come to you?’

’To consult me.  He wishes me to persuade poor old Mrs. Meadows to go out to the Mauritius, which is clearly impossible, but Maria must not be sacrificed again.  Would the Drurys make her comfortable?  Or could she not live alone with her maid?’