"His advice he may give me, but I am quite sure he will not ask for obedience." "And if he advises you you will slight his advice." "If he tells me that I had better not travel with my cousin George I shall certainly not take his advice.

Moreover, I should be careful to let him know how much I was offended by any such counsel from him.
It would show a littleness on his part, and a suspicion of which I cannot suppose him to be capable." Alice, as she said this, got up from her seat and walked about the room.

When she had finished she stood at one of the windows with her back to her visitor.

There was silence between them for a minute or two, during which Lady Macleod was deeply considering how best she might speak the terrible words, which, as Alice's nearest female relative, she felt herself bound to utter.

At last she collected her thoughts and her courage, and spoke out.
"My dear Alice, I need hardly say that if you had a mother living, or any person with you filling the place of a mother, I should not interfere in this matter." "Of course, Aunt Macleod, if you think I am wrong you have quite a right to say so." "I do think you are wrong,--very wrong, indeed; and if you persist in this I am afraid I must say that I shall think you wicked.