'You life here, Mary, will be inexpressibly sad.'

'It must be sad anywhere. I cannot go to college like Gerald, or
live anywhere just like Silverbridge.'

'Do you envy them that?'

'Sometimes, papa. Only I shall think of more of poor mama by being
alone, and I should like to be thinking of her always.' He shook
his head mournfully. 'I do not mean that I shall always be
unhappy, as I am now.'

'No, dear; you are too young for that. It is only the old who
suffer in that way.'

'You will suffer less if I am with you; won't you, papa? I do not
want to go to Lady Cantrip. I hardly remember her at all.'

'She is very good.'

'Oh, yes. That is what they used to say to mamma about Lady
Midlothian. Papa, do not send me to Lady Cantrip.'

Of course it was decided that she should not go to Lady Cantrip at
once, or to Mrs Jeffrey Palliser, and, after a short interval of
doubt, it was decided also that Mrs Finn should remain at Matching
for at least a fortnight. The Duke declared that he would be glad
to see Mr Finn, but she knew in his present mood the society of
any one man to whom he would feel himself called upon to devote