CHAPTER 5

It is Impossible

Down at Matching Lady Mary's life was very dull after Mrs Finn had
left her. She had a horse to ride, but had no one to ride with
her; she had a carriage in which to be driven, but no one to be
driven with her, and no special places whither to go. Her father
would walk daily for two hours, and she would accompany him when
he encouraged her to do so; but she had an idea that he preferred
taking his walks alone, and when they were together there was no
feeling of confidence between them. There could be none on her
part, as she knew that she was keeping back information which he
was entitled to possess. On this matter she received two letters
from Mrs Finn, in the first of which she was told that Mr Tregear
intended to present himself at Matching within a few days, and was
advised in the same letter not to endeavour to see her lover on
that occasion; and then, in the second she was informed that this
interview with her father was to be sought not at Matching but in
London. From this letter there was of course some disappointment,
though some feeling of relief. Had he come there she might
possibly have seen him after the interview. But she would have
been subjected to the immediate sternness of her father's anger.
That she would now escape. She would not be called on to meet him
just when the first blow had fallen upon him. She was quite sure
that he would disapprove of the thing. She was quite sure that he
would be very angry. She knew that he was a peculiarly just man,