"You have?"
"Well, my dear, I almost did. She said a great deal, and I could not but agree with much of it. Ayala ought to have her chances."
"What chances?" demanded Mrs. Dosett, who did not at all like the expression.
"Well; seeing people. She never sees anybody here."
"Nobody is better than some people," said Mrs. Dosett, meaning to be severe on Lady Albury's probable guests.
"But if a girl sees nobody," said Mr. Dosett, "she can have no,—no,—no chances."
"She has the chance of wholesome victuals," said Mrs. Dosett, "and I don't know what other chances you or I can give her."
"She might see—a young man." This Mr. Dosett said very timidly.
"A young fiddlestick! A young man! Young men should be waited for till they come naturally, and never thought about if they don't come at all. I hate this looking after young men. If there wasn't a young man for the next dozen years we should do better,—so as just to get out of the way of thinking about them for a time." This was Mrs. Dosett's philosophy; but in spite of her philosophy she did yield, and on that night it was decided that Ayala after all was to be allowed to go to Stalham.
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