anxious to break off the engagement, he would have gone any length
towards healing the breach. When it was too late he bitterly regretted
his own weakness in submitting to the domination of his sisters, and
felt a deep though silent resentment against them for the share that
he was convinced they had taken in causing the breach between himself
and Mary Vernon; but although he resented, he had neither the will nor
firmness to free himself from their domination.

At times he struggled feebly against it; and on two or three occasions
had suddenly gone up to town, and thence on to the Continent, and had
traveled there for weeks. On one of these occasions he had written to
them saying that he thought it would be for the happiness of them all
if they were to leave Penfold Hall and set up an establishment of
their own. But upon his return he found things going on exactly as
before, and Miss Penfold had spoken somewhat severely of the silly
letter he had written to them, a letter displaying at once such
ingratitude and folly that it had been beneath them to notice it. As
Herbert Penfold was in a way really fond of his sisters, who spared no
effort in making his home comfortable for him, and who allowed him to
have his own way in all minor matters, he could not bring himself to
repeat when face to face with them the opinion he had expressed in
writing; and so things had gone on for years.

The Miss Penfolds were really anxious to see their brother married.
Provided only that it was to a lady who would be, in their estimation,
fitted for him, and who would also have a feeling of gratitude towards
themselves for their share in installing her as mistress of the Hall,
they were quite prepared to abdicate in her favor, and to retire to
some pretty house near a pleasant watering-place, paying visits once
or twice a year to the Hall.