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Updated: June 24, 2025
Mrs. Dornell appeared suspicious, but observing that the cottage had no back-door, and that Betty could not escape without being seen, she allowed the carriage to be stopped. Betty ran back and entered the cottage, emerging again in about a minute, and resuming her seat in the carriage.
Dornell called, but there was no answer. Full of misgivings, she privately fetched the old house-steward and bade him burst open the door an order by no means easy to execute, the joinery of the Court being massively constructed. However, the lock sprang open at last, and she entered Betty's chamber only to find the window unfastened and the bird flown. For a moment Mrs. Dornell was staggered.
For the first time since her strategic marriage of the child, Susan Dornell doubted the wisdom of that step. Her husband had, as it were, been assisted by destiny to make his objection, originally trivial, a valid one. She saw the outlines of trouble in the future. Why had Dornell interfered? Why had he insisted upon producing his man?
Dornell professed to believe not a word of it. 'You sha'n't have her till she's dree sixes full no maid ought to be married till she's dree sixes! and my daughter sha'n't be treated out of nater! So he stormed on till Tupcombe, who had been alarmedly listening in the next room, entered suddenly, declaring to Reynard that his master's life was in danger if the interview were prolonged, he being subject to apoplectic strokes at these crises.
Dornell's consternation could scarcely be concealed when, abruptly entering with his companion, the Squire announced him as his friend Phelipson of Elm-Cranlynch. Dornell passed on to Betty in the background and tenderly kissed her. 'Sting your mother's conscience, my maid! he whispered.
To be out of the sound of this delicate discussion Betty was accordingly sent downstairs, and they soon saw her walking away into the shrubberies, looking very pretty in her sweeping green gown, and flapping broad-brimmed hat overhung with a feather. On returning to the subject, Mrs. Dornell found her husband's reluctance to reply in the affirmative to Reynard's letter to be as great as ever.
Then she came one day, with more animation in her manner, and at once moved him by the simple statement that Betty's schooling had ended; she had returned, and was grieved because he was away. She had sent a message to him in these words: 'Ask father to come home to his dear Betty. 'Ah! Then she is very unhappy! said Squire Dornell. His wife was silent.
He was at this time about five-and-thirty, though careful living and an even, unemotional temperament caused him to look much younger than his years. Squire Dornell plunged into his errand without much ceremony or preface. 'I am your humble servant, sir, he said. 'I have read your letter writ to my wife and myself, and considered that the best way to answer it would be to do so in person.
The Squire was sinking, and his extreme weakness had almost changed his character, except in the particular that his old obstinacy sustained him in a refusal to see a clergyman. He shed tears at the least word, and sobbed at the sight of his wife. He asked for Betty, and it was with a heavy heart that Mrs. Dornell told him that the girl had not accompanied her. 'He is not keeping her away?
As they drove on she fixed her eyes upon her mother and said, 'There, I have done it now! Her pale face was stormy, and her eyes full of waiting tears. 'What have you done? said Mrs. Dornell. 'Nanny Priddle is sick of the smallpox, and I saw her at the window, and I went in and kissed her, so that I might take it; and now I shall have it, and he won't be able to come near me!
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