For Mrs.Dubbs was an imposing person, morally and physically, and had a character to lose; and though the place was a very good one for her old age, because the master only spent six weeks or two months at Oxley Paddox each year, and never found fault, yet Mrs.Dubbs was not going to have her name associated with that of a gentleman who blew up underground works and took Solomon's view of the domestic affections.

She came of very good people in the north; one of her brothers was a minister, and the other was an assistant steward on a large Scotch estate.
Miss More's quiet serenity was not at all disturbed by what was happening, for it could hardly be supposed that she was ignorant of the general attack on Mr.Van Torp, though he did not leave the papers lying about, where little Ida's quick eyes might fall on a marked passage.

The housekeeper waited for an occasion when Mr.Van Torp had taken the child for a drive, as he often did, and Miss More was established in her favourite corner of the garden, just out of sight of the house.

Mrs.Dubbs first exposed the situation, then expressed a strong opinion as to her own respectability, and finally asked Miss More's advice.
Miss More listened attentively, and waited till her large and sleek interlocutor had absolutely nothing more to say.

Then she spoke.
'Mrs.Dubbs,' she said, 'do you consider me a respectable young woman ?' 'Oh, Miss More!' cried the housekeeper.