'Does Papa want to be--alone here?'

'It is you, not himself, of whom he is thinking.'

'Therefore, I must think of him. Mrs Finn, I do not wish him to be
alone. I am sure it would be better that I should stay with him.'

'He feels that it would not be well that you should live without
the companionship of some lady.'

'Then let him find some lady. You would be the best, because he
knows you so well. I, however, am not afraid of being alone. I am
sure he ought not to be here quite by himself. If he bids me go, I
must go, and then of course I shall go where he sends me; but I
won't say that I think it best that I should go, and certainly I
do not want to go to Lady Cantrip.' This she said with great
decision, as though the matter was one on which she had altogether
made up her mind. Then she added, in a lower voice: 'Why doesn't
papa speak to me about it?'

'He is thinking only of what may be best for you.'

'It would be best for me to stay near him. Whom else has he got?'

All this Mrs Finn repeated to the Duke as closely as she could,
and then of course the father was obliged to speak to his
daughter.

'Don't send me away, papa,' she said at once.