’When I made the offer, she might have refused. I would not have been offended. What I do object to is the blowing of hot and cold with one breath.’ ’I dare say she thought it very kind of you to propose to take the management; and there may have been a misunderstanding. She wished you to manage for the future and not inquire into the past.’ ’Then she should have said so. She complained of a loss, and became reticent and evasive when pressed as to the particulars of this alleged loss.’ ’I think the matter may be dropped,’ said Salome. ’By all means—only, understand—I am dissatisfied.’ ’Hush!’ exclaimed Salome. ’I hear baby crying.’ Then she rose to leave the room. ’Now look here,’ said Philip, ’would it be fair to the doctor whom you call in about baby to withhold from him the particulars of the ailments you expect him to cure.’ ’Never mind that now,’ said Salome, and she kissed her husband to silence him. ’Baby is awake and is crying for me.’ This brief conversation will serve to let the reader see an unlovable feature in Philip’s character. He possessed a peculiarity not common in men, that of harbouring a grievance and recurring to it. Men usually dismiss a matter that has annoyed them, and are unwilling to revert to it. It is otherwise with women, due to the sedentary life they lead at their needlework. Whilst their fingers are engaged with thread or knitting-pins, their minds turn over and over again little vexations, and roll them like snowballs into great grievances. Probably the solitary life Philip had led had tended to develop the same feminine faculty of harbouring and enlarging his grievances. The front-door bell tingled. Salome did not leave the room to go after baby till she heard who had come. The door was thrown open upon them, and Mrs. Sidebottom burst in. This good lady had thought proper to swallow her indignation at the marriage of Philip, because it was against her interest to be on bad terms with her nephew; and after the first ebullition of bad temper she changed her behaviour towards Philip and Salome, and became gracious. They accepted her overtures with civility but without cordiality, and a decent appearance of friendship was maintained. She pressed Salome to visit her at York, with full knowledge that the invitation would be declined. Occasionally she came from York to see how the mill was working and what business was being transacted. As she burst in on Philip and his wife, both noticed that she was greatly disturbed; her usual assurance was gone. She was distressed and downcast. Almost without a word of recognition cast to Salome, she pushed past her at the door, entered the room, ran to her nephew and exclaimed, ’Oh, Philip! You alone can help me. Have you heard? You do not know what has happened? I am sure you do not, or you would have come to York to my rescue.’ ’What is the matter? Take a chair, Aunt Louisa.’