He would not torture her by harsh restraint and cruel temper.  He would not drink.  He would not spend his money foolishly.  He would allow her all the belongings of a fair, free life.  Lady Carbury reiterated to herself the assertion that she was manifestly doing a mother’s duty by her endeavours to constrain her girl to marry such a man.  With a settled purpose she was severe and hard.  But when she found how harsh her daughter could be in response to this,—­how gloomy, how silent, and how severe in retaliation,—­she was almost frightened at what she herself was doing.  She had not known how stern and how enduring her daughter could be.  ‘Hetta,’ she said, ‘why don’t you speak to me?’ On this very...