"Yes, he called me after that."
"Well?"
"He bade me not talk about Lady Frances."
"I dare say not. He does not wish to hear her name spoken. I can understand that."
"He does not wish me to mention her to you."
"Not to me? Is my mouth to be stopped? I shall say respecting her whatever I think fit. I dare say, indeed!"
"It was to my talking that he referred."
"He cannot stop people's mouths. It is all nonsense. He should have kept her at Königsgraaf, and locked her up till she had changed her mind."
"He wanted me to promise that I would not speak of her to your ladyship."
"And what did you say?" He shrugged his shoulders, and drank his tea. She shook her head and bit her lips. She would not hold her tongue, be he ever so angry. "I almost wish that she would marry the man, so that the matter might be settled. I don't suppose he would ever mention her name then himself. Has she gone back to Hendon yet?"