I think she has not chosen badly as regards Miss Beatrice Gresham; and should she even add Frank Gresham to the number--" "Friends! why they were more than friends; they were declared lovers." "I doubt that, Lady Arabella, because I have not heard of it from Mary.

But even if it were so, I do not see why I should object." "Not object!" "As I said before, Frank is, to my thinking, an excellent young man.
Why should I object ?" "Dr Thorne!" said her ladyship, now also rising from her chair in a state of too evident perturbation.
"Why should _I_ object?
It is for you, Lady Arabella, to look after your lambs; for me to see that, if possible, no harm shall come to mine.

If you think that Mary is an improper acquaintance for your children, it is for you to guide them; for you and their father.

Say what you think fit to your own daughter; but pray understand, once for all, that I will allow no one to interfere with my niece." "Interfere!" said Lady Arabella, now absolutely confused by the severity of the doctor's manner.
"I will allow no one to interfere with her; no one, Lady Arabella.
She has suffered very greatly from imputations which you have most unjustly thrown on her.

It was, however, your undoubted right to turn her out of your house if you thought fit;--though, as a woman who had known her for so many years, you might, I think, have treated her with more forbearance.