In her early days she had known very little of the Thornes, nor had she thought much of them since, except as regarded her friend the doctor; but at this moment she began for the first time to remember that she had never heard of more than two brothers in the family.

Who then could have been Mary's father?
She felt at once that it would be improper for to say anything as to Henry Thorne's terrible faults and sudden fate;--improper also, to say more about Mary Scatcherd; but she was quite unable to drop the matter otherwise than abruptly, and with a start.
"She was very unfortunate, you say, Lady Scatcherd ?" "Yes, Miss Thorne; Mary, I mean--never mind me--I shall do it in time.

Yes, she was; but now I think of it, I had better say nothing more about it.

There are reasons, and I ought not to have spoken of it.

You won't be provoked with me, will you ?" Mary assured her that she would not be provoked, and of course asked no more questions about Mary Scatcherd; nor did she think much more about it.