‘I know what I shall do,’ said Miss Marjory, after a pause. ‘I shall demand young Torwood’s address, and write direct to him. If he is in England I shall try to see him. I hate middle-men—they always make mischief where they can; and that Wetherby and I never were over and above civil to one another. He has to come over and see about the outside repairs, and I always do get my way in the end; but he owes me a grudge for it, and I know he will do me an ill-turn if he can. I’ll have no more dealings with him. I’ll go straight to headquarters. I’ll have young Torwood’s address—Torrington Torwood I believe is his name; his mother was a Torrington—and I’ll lay the matter before him. His father was a true gentleman, and his mother a gentlewoman. He has gentle blood in his veins on both sides, and ought to know how to treat a lady. At any rate, I can but try. I’ll have nothing to do with Wetherby. If I am to get my own way at all, I must set about things my own way. I generally find when I do that, I am successful.’ Miss Marjory gathered her papers together and rose from the table, bidding Ethel go and practise her music in the drawing-room for an hour. Horace went off to assist at matins in the Minster, and the aunt retired to her morning-room to write her note. Miss Marjory never let grass grow under her feet. She liked to act as promptly as she planned. In five minutes the letter to the agent was written, demanding Mr. Torrington Torwood’s address; and as she folded and addressed it, the writer heaved a sigh of satisfaction. ‘There, that is one step taken. I don’t mean to go, and I don’t mean to pay more rent; and I’ll have no dealings with that Wetherby. I’ll see young Torwood himself, and put the matter fairly before him. If he’s his father’s son, he will hear reason.’ Miss Marjory then donned a broad-brimmed garden-hat and made a tour of her domain, visited all the houses, gave orders to her gardener, and pointed out with unerring accuracy of observation anything that was going wrong or that had been carelessly done. Her poultry next claimed her attention, and were closely inspected; after which the active little gentlewoman returned to the house, and held an interview with her cook in the kitchen; and then, having set her household in order, she put on her outdoor garments, took her letter in her hand, and sallied forth into the sunshine of the Square and the High Street. ‘I’ll post my letter first,’ quoth Miss Marjory, ‘and then I’ll take Mr. Graves’s opinion about the matter. I’m determined not to act through the agent, so if he advises that I should, his advice will come too late. I don’t mind hearing different opinions, but I always intend to manage my own affairs my own way.’ So the letter was dropped into the post-box; and then Miss Marjory intercepted her friend the lawyer on the way to his office, and treated him to an animated recital of her wrongs.