His language therefore had been a little doubtful, so that the lady might, if she were so minded, look upon him in that tender light in which her husband had certainly chosen to regard him.
When the letter was handed to Mrs.Trevelyan, she at once took it with her up to her own room, so that she might be alone when she read it.

The handwriting was quite familiar to her, and she did not choose that even her sister should see it.

She had told herself twenty times over that, while living at Nuncombe Putney, she was not living under the guardianship of Mrs.Stanbury.She would consent to live under the guardianship of no one, as her husband did not choose to remain with her and protect her.

She had done no wrong, and she would submit to no other authority, than that of her legal lord and master.

Nor, according to her views of her own position, was it in his power to depute that authority to others.