Neither would feign indifference, or attempt a lame dialogue upon
other topics than those that filled their minds. Mr. Aylett was not
one to pay outward heed to hints when he chose to ignore them. He
kept up his walk until the carriage was driven around to the front
door, informed the parting guest that it awaited his commands,
likewise that he would need all the time that remained to him if he
hoped to catch the stage; without leaving the room, called to a
servant to bring down Mr. Chilton's baggage, and did not lose sight
of his sister's lover until the last farewell was said, and Frederic
bestowed inside the vehicle. There was nothing offensively officious
or malicious in all this. Having declared as an incontrovertible
dogma, that a ward could form no engagement without the formal
sanction of her legal guardian, he saw fit to put the seal upon the
decision at this, their adieu, in a manner they were not likely to
forget. An hour's harangue would not have imbued them with the sense
of his authority, his determination to exercise it, and their
impotency to resist it, as did this practical lesson.

Mrs. Sutton could scarcely restrain her tearful remonstrances
against what was, to her perception, an act of arbitrary and wanton
cruelty, and other spectators had their views upon the subject.

"Very inconsiderate in Aylett! I wonder how he would like the same
game to be played upon himself!" commented Alfred, aside, to his
Dulcinea.

Her lip curled in disdainful amusement.

"As if he had ever done an inconsiderate thing since he put off long
clothes! There is method in all this, if we were clever enough to