'By her orders?'
'Yes. She has the whole estate, and you and me too, completely in her power. Papa, in his folly, left her, apparently, everything; but to come to us, I presume, in time; and now she is entirely influenced and guided by her brother. Literally, we seem to be at his mercy,' continued the girl, with a kind of a shudder, 'and you must play your cards well to prevent a catastrophe.'
'It is intolerable!' exclaimed Roland, in an accent of rage.
'It is beyond my comprehension.'
'I wish old MacWadsett were at home.'
'He will not be in town for some weeks yet.'
Some bitter words escaped Roland, who added:
'God, give me patience! A fracas in the house with so many guests coming is, of course, to be avoided.'
'I hope your return may make some change, Roland; it has been so dull here.'
'Why—how?'