"I think I should take her to some place on the seashore in England," said Mrs. Finn.
"Custins is close to the sea," he replied. "It is Lord Cantrip's place in Dorsetshire. It was partly settled that she was to go there."
"I suppose she likes Lady Cantrip."
"Why should she not?"
"She has not said a word to me to the contrary. I only fear she would feel that she was being sent there,—as to a convent."
"What ought I to do then?"
"How can I venture to answer that? What she would like best, I think, would be to return to Matching with you, and to settle down in a quiet way for the winter." The Duke shook his head. That would be worse than travelling. She would still have headaches and still tell him that she was unhappy. "Of course I do not know what your plans are, and pray believe me that I should not obtrude my advice if you did not ask me."
"I know it," he said. "I know how good you are and how reasonable. I know how much you have to forgive."
"Oh, no."
"And, if I have not said so as I should have done, it has not been from want of feeling. I do believe you did what you thought best when Mary told you that story at Matching."