that--"

"Quite so, Hester; of course. But at the same time a stop must be put
to all this nonsense; it cannot be allowed. I have only to look round
to take it all in. They are worrying their father into his grave. His
position is a very trying one. He has no one whom he can depend on--no
one."

"I am alone since poor Julia--"

Aunt Mary and Aunt Hester looked at each other, and they wondered if
the terrors of the carving knife were completely forgotten.

"Poor James," said Aunt Mary, recrossing her hands, "is obliged to go
to London every morning, from ten till, I may say, half-past six."

"I am never home before seven."

"These girls are their own mistresses; they go out when they like,
they order the carriage whenever they like, and they invite here every
one it pleases their fancy to invite without consulting their father.
I believe he doesn't even--"

"I know none of the young men who come to my house. All I know of them
is that they come from the Southdown Road."

"Don't be so silly, James, put up that handkerchief. Of course, the
Southdown Road is one of the great disadvantages of the place. Those
villa residences have brought into Southwick a host of people that a
man living in a big place like the Manor House cannot know--little