“And for two reasons I have tried to think I was right in taking no steps about what may, after all, be all a fancy at which we have jumped.”
“And what were the reasons, James Ellis?”
“One was, ma’am, that I knew it would be a great pain and trouble to my employer.”
Mrs Mostyn bent her head.
“And the other?”
“Well, ma’am, to speak plainly, there was a little bit of leaning on the part of my Mary towards poor John Grange, and there’s no doubt he was very fond of her.”
“Ah! This is news to me. And you and Mrs Ellis?”
“These things come about, ma’am, without fathers and mothers having anything to do with them till too late.”
“Yes, yes,” said Mrs Mostyn thoughtfully.
“But when John Grange’s bad accident happened, of course I had to put down my foot firmly, and say it could not be.”