"You do not thank me then for vindicating your honour and your wife's innocence?"
"I do not think that that was the way. The way is to take her home."
"Yes;—to her old home,—to the deanery for a while; so that the world, which will no doubt hear the malignant epithet applied to her by your wicked brother, may know that both her husband and her father support her. You had promised to come to the deanery."
"We cannot do that now."
"Do you mean that after what has passed you will take your brother's part?"
"I will take my wife to Cross Hall," he said, leaving the room and following Mary up to her chamber.
"What am I to do, papa?" she said when she came down about half-an-hour afterwards. Lord George had then started to Scumberg's, saying that he would come to Munster Court again before dinner, but telling her plainly that he would not sit down to dine with her father, "He has determined to quarrel with you."
"It will only be for a time, dearest."
"But what shall I do?"
Now came the peril of the answer. He was sure, almost sure, that she would in this emergency rely rather upon him than on her husband, if he were firm; but should he be firm as against the husband, how great would be his responsibility! "I think, my dear," he said, at last, "that you should go with me to Brotherton."