"I am perfectly amazed, Anne--quite astonished," exclaimed Mrs. Ross. "What can the girl be dreaming of? _you_ go to collect evidence!--you accomplish what Lewis and Mr. Aytoun, and Robert Ferguson--trained lawyers have failed to do! I never heard of such self-confidence. I cannot comprehend it." Anne was roused out of her usual patience. "Mother!" she said, "you have often called me very useless--I grant it, if you choose--I have at least not been undutiful. Hitherto, you know, I have been almost entirely guided by your pleasure. Here is one thing upon which I must exercise my own judgment--_must_, mother--it is no question of liking or disliking. I also have some affections, desires, wishes of my own. I am not merely an appendage--a piece of goods--forgive me if I speak hastily; but supposing that neither affection nor wish were in this matter, I have even a prior _duty_ to Norman; I have my father's command. Mother, I am no longer a girl--there is some other duty for me now, than mere obedience; I have rendered you that for three-and-twenty years: do not grudge me some exercise of my own faculties now." Mrs. Ross stared at her in open-eyed astonishment. Lewis had laughed at first--now he was graver. Mrs. Ross, with much obstinacy of her own, was one of those people who sometimes bluster, but always yield and quail before genuine, sober firmness. "What do you mean? What do you wish to do?" she asked, peevishly. "Dutiful, obedient! ah, I have had a good daughter in you, without doubt! You are your brother's own sister. By all means, devote yourself to Norman. What right have I, who have only been a mother to you all your life, in comparison with this brother Norman, whom you never saw?" Anne was already sorry for her outburst; yet, in spite of herself, felt indignant and impatient. This thraldom galled her grievously, yet she knew it to be a necessary result of her dependence. "Stay, mother," said Lewis, "let me be peacemaker, for once. You forget how tired I am. Postpone your discussion till after dinner. We have had civil war long enough; let us have peace now." Anne withdrew to her own room. So did Lewis; and the discussion was at an end. What should she do? The few shillings in the end of her purse were all inadequate for the journey, and the expense of residing, perhaps for some considerable time, among strangers. That difficulty there was but one way of overcoming. Anne could not rely upon the generosity of Lewis, or his mother. To tell the truth, the finances of Merkland were in a state of considerable attenuation. But she could rely, without hesitation, upon Mrs. Catherine.