'And undo everything! What do you say to that, Mary?'
'Mary is to say nothing,' said Louis, 'I mean that poor child to have her swing.'
'I shall leave you and James to settle that,' said Mary, quitting them.
'I am very anxious that Clara should form a friendship with Mary,' said James, gravely.
'Friendships can't be crammed down people's throats,' said Louis, in a weary indifferent tone.
'You who have been three months with Mary—!'
'Mary and I did not meet with labels round our necks that here were a pair of friends. Pray do you mean to send that victim of yours back to school?'
'Don't set her against it. I have been telling her of the necessity all the way home.'
'Is it not to be taken into consideration that a bad—not to say a base-style of girl seems to prevail there?'
'I can't help it, Fitzjocelyn,' cried Jem, ruffling up his hair, as he always did when vexed. 'Girls fit to be her companions don't go to school—or to no school within my means. This place has sound superiors, and she must be provided with a marketable stock of accomplishments, so there's no choice. I can trust her not to forget that she is a Dynevor.'