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Rh horror of Colonel Wybrowe, who she says only wanted to marry her for her money."

"Why should she think that?" cut in the perplexed gentleman. "I'm sure she is a good-looking girl, and quick enough with her tongue, and rides well. Why should she choose to think"

"Never mind why; she does think it. She thinks her money has brought her into trouble. She wants to get rid of it."

"To get rid of it!"

"Of the reputation of being an heiress; that is what I mean. She has left your house in a passion, and she dreads your pursuing her. I am not defending the course she has taken; but, being what she is, I am persuaded that nothing will induce her at present to return to Farley. If you run her to earth, you will probably make the breach lasting, which might only be temporary between you. Is it worth while? Is it not better to let me act for you in this matter, since she is disposed to trust me?"

"But—but what does she want do? Why the deuce does she run away because she has had a row with Wybrowe and my wife? She could go and live at her own place, or or anything, with some old woman, don't ye know? But to go off like this! What am I to say to the neighbours? I don't know."

"You can say she is gone to friends."

"She can't stay with friends for ever! And why is she to treat me like this, who've looked upon her almost as my own child since Anthony died? And me and my wife, I'm sure, have been as kind to her as anything. It's deuced ungrateful, Twisden—that's what it is."