"About all those letters. What letters?"
"Letters he's been writing to your father and me and your Uncle Victor."
"When?"
"Ever since you left school. You were sent to school to keep you out of his way; and you weren't back before he began his persecuting. If you want to know why we left Ilford, that's why. He persecuted your poor father. He persecuted your Uncle Victor. And now he's persecuting me."
"Persecuting?"
"What is it but persecuting? Threatening that he won't answer for the consequences if he doesn't get what he wants. He's mistaken if he thinks that's the way to get it."
"What—does he want?"
"I suppose," her mother said, "he thinks he wants to marry you."
"Me? He doesn't say that. He only says he wants to come and see me. Why shouldn't he?"
"Because your father didn't wish it, and your uncle and I don't wish it."