When she had related that her father's positive wish, furthered by the doctor's special injunction to obey it scrupulously, was that they were not to go to him in London, and not to breathe a word of his illness, but to remain at Brookfield entertaining friends, Adela stamped her foot, saying that it was more than human nature could bear.
"If we go," said Arabella, "the London doctor assured Mr.Powys that he would not answer for papa's life." "But, good heavens! are we papa's enemies?
And why may Mr.Powys see him if we, his daughters, cannot?
Tell me how Mr.Powys met him and knew of it! Tell me--I am bewildered.

I feel that we are cheated in some way.
Oh! tell me something clear." Arabella said calmingly: "Emilia is with papa.

She wrote to Mr.Powys.
Whether she did rightly or not we have not now to inquire.

I believe that she thought it right." "Entertain friends!" interjected Adela.

"But papa cannot possibly mean that we are to go through--to--the fete on Besworth Lawn, Bella! It's in two days from this dreadful day." "Papa has mentioned it to Mr.Powys; he desires us not to postpone it.
We..." Arabella's voice broke piteously.
"Oh! but this is torture!" cried Adela, with a deplorable vision of the looking-glass rising before her, as she felt the tears sting her eyelids.