"But she is not to be treated as though she had disgraced herself." "She has disgraced herself." "I deny it. I will not hear such a word said of her even by you." The Marchioness drew herself up as though she had been insulted. "If there is to be such a feeling about her in your house I must ask my father to have her removed, and I will make a home for her. I will not see her broken-hearted by cruel treatment. I am sure that he would not wish it." "You have no right to speak to me in this manner." "I surely have a right to protect my sister, and I will exercise it." "You have brought most improperly a young man into the house--" "I have brought into the house a young man whom I am proud to call my friend." "And now you mean to assist him in destroying your sister." "You are very wrong to say so. They both know, Roden and my sister also, that I disapprove of this marriage. If Fanny were with me I should not think it right to ask Roden into the house. They would both understand that. But it does not follow that she should be cruelly used." "No one has been cruel to her but she herself." "It is easy enough to perceive what is going on. It will be much better that Fanny should remain with the family; but you may be sure of this,--that I will not see her tortured." Then he took himself off, and on the next day he had left Königsgraaf. It may be understood that the Marchioness was not reconciled to her radical stepson by such language as he had used to her. About a week afterwards the whole family returned to England and to Trafford. CHAPTER X. "NOBLESSE OBLIGE." "I quite agree," said Hampstead, endeavouring to discuss the matter rationally with his sister, "that her ladyship should not be allowed to torment you." "She does torment me. You cannot perceive what my life was at Königsgraaf! There is a kind of usage which would drive any girl to run away,--or to drown herself. I don't suppose a man can know what it is always to be frowned at. A man has his own friends, and can go anywhere. His spirits are not broken by being isolated. He would not even see half the things which a girl is made to feel. The very servants were encouraged to treat me badly. The boys were not allowed to come near me. I never heard a word that was not intended to be severe." "I am sure it was bad." "And it was not made better by the conviction that she has never cared for me. It is to suffer all the authority, but to enjoy none of the love of a mother. When papa came of course it was better; but even papa cannot make her change her ways. A man is comparatively so very little in the house. If it goes on it will drive me mad." "Of course I'll stand to you." "Oh, John, I am sure you will." "But it isn't altogether easy to know how to set about it. If we were to keep house together at Hendon--" As he made this proposition a look of joy came over her face, and shone amidst her tears. "There would, of course, be a difficulty."