The Duke declared that he would be glad to see Mr.Finn, but she knew that in his present mood the society of any one man to whom he would feel himself called upon to devote his time, would be a burden to him, and she plainly said that Mr.
Finn had better not come to Matching at present.

"There are old associations," she said, "which will enable you to bear with me as you will with your butler or your groom, but you are not as yet quite able to make yourself happy with company." This he bore with perfect equanimity, and then, as it were, handed over his daughter to Mrs.
Finn's care.
Very quickly there came to be close intimacy between Mrs.Finn and Lady Mary.

For a day or two the elder woman, though the place she filled was one of absolute confidence, rather resisted than encouraged the intimacy.

She always remembered that the girl was the daughter of a great duke, and that her position in the house had sprung from circumstances which would not, perhaps, in the eyes of the world at large, have recommended her for such friendship.

She knew--the reader may possibly know--that nothing had ever been purer, nothing more disinterested than her friendship.