It was this proudly independent spirit, unyielding as her own, and stronger still in that it never lost self-command, which had so established the clergyman's daughter in her respect and confidence.
Yet the domineering instinct now and then prompted her to outrage a dignity she admired, and her invariable defeat was a new satisfaction when she calmly looked back upon it.
"You mustn't mind me," she said presently, when Constance had quietly refused to make conjectures about the subject under dissuasion.

"Isn't it natural enough that I should be upset when I hear such news as this?
I wanted to have a talk with May this morning, but now--" She broke off, and hung her head gloomily.
"In your position," said Constance, "I should find out by a simple inquiry whether Miss Tomalin is engaged or likely to be.

She will answer, I am sure, readily enough.

She doesn't seem to be at all reticent." "Of course I shall do so; thank you for the advice, all the same.

Would you mind bringing her up here?
If you prefer it, I will ring." Scrupulousness of this kind always followed when Lady Ogram had behaved ill to her secretary.