It cannot in any
circumstance be easy to write to a father of his daughter's love
for an objectionable lover; but the Duke's character added much to
the severity of the task. And then that embrace! She knew that
the Duke would be struck with horror as he read of such a tale,
and she found herself almost struck with horror as she attempted
to write it. When she came to the point she found that she could
not write it. 'I fear there was a good deal of warmth shown on
both sides,' she said, feeling that she was calumniating the man,
as to whose warmth she had heard nothing. 'It is quite clear,' she
added, 'that this is not a passing fancy on her part.'
It was impossible that the Duke should be made to understand
exactly what had occurred. That Silverbridge had taken Mary he did
understand, and that they had together gone to Lord Grex's house.
He understood also that the meeting had taken place in the
presence of Silverbridge and Lady Mabel. 'No doubt it was all an
accident,' Lady Cantrip wrote. How could it be an accident?
'You had Mary up in town on Friday?' he said to his son on the
following Sunday morning.
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