Mrs. de Burgh seemed to understand it as such, for she said—
"It is all that miserly old father's fault. He could set everything right at once, if he chose."
"But," said Mary, in a low tone, "I see no end of all this."
"No," hesitated Mrs. de Burgh, "not I suppose till the brother turns up; unless, indeed—" she murmured.
"What?" inquired Mary, anxiously.
"You had better come and stay with me at Silverton," was Mrs. de Burgh's indirect reply.
Mary smiled dejectedly.
"That would never do," she replied, "they would not consent to my doing so, under present circumstances."
"They—who are they? I am sure, Mary, I should not allow any brother or sister to interfere with my proceedings. You are of age, and quite at liberty, I should imagine, to act as you please on any subject."
Mary shook her head. She did not feel quite so independent-spirited as all that—and besides, she did not herself see that such a step would be quite expedient at present.