This last question Mr Gresham did not think it necessary to answer.  That evil had been done, and it would be useless to dispute it.  ’I’ll tell you what I’ll do,’ said he.  ‘I’ll speak to the doctor myself.’

‘It’s not the slightest use,’ said Lady Arabella.  ’He will not assist us.  Indeed, I firmly believe it’s all his own doing.’

‘Oh, nonsense! that really is nonsense, my love.’

’Very well, Mr Gresham.  What I say is always nonsense, I know; you have always told me so.  But yet, see how things have turned out.  I knew how it would be when she was first brought into the house.’  This assertion was rather a stretch on the part of Lady Arabella.

’Well, it is nonsense to say that Frank is in love with the girl at the doctor’s bidding.’

’I think you know, Mr Gresham, that I don’t mean that.  What I say is this, that Dr Thorne, finding what an easy fool Frank is—­’

‘I don’t think he’s at all easy, my love; and is certainly not a fool.’

’Very well, have it your own way.  I’ll not say a word more.  I’m struggling to do my best, and I’m browbeaten on every side.  God knows I am not in a state of health to bear it!’ And Lady Arabella bowed her head into her pocket-handkerchief.

’I think, my dear, if you were to see Mary herself it might do some good,’ said the squire, when the violence of his wife’s grief had somewhat subsided.

‘What! go and call upon this girl?’

’Yes; you can send Beatrice to give her notice, you know.  She never was unreasonable, and I do not think that you would find her so.  You should tell her, you know—­’

‘Oh, I should know very well what to tell her, Mr Gresham.’

’Yes, my love; I’m sure you would; nobody better.  But what I mean is, that if you are to do any good, you should be kind in your manner.  Mary Thorne has a spirit that you cannot break.  You may perhaps lead, but nobody can drive her.’

As this scheme originated with her husband, Lady Arabella could not, of course, confess that there was much in it.  But, nevertheless, she determined to attempt it, thinking that if anything could be efficacious for good in their present misfortunes, it would be her own diplomatic powers.  It was, therefore, at last settled between them, that he should endeavour to talk over the doctor, and that she would do the same with Mary.

‘And then I will speak to Frank,’ said Lady Arabella.  ’As yet he has never had the audacity to open his mouth to me about Mary Thorne, though I believe he declares his love openly to every one else in the house.’

‘And I will get Oriel to speak to him,’ said the squire.

’I think Patience might do more good.  I did once think he was getting fond of Patience, and I was quite unhappy about it then.  Ah, dear!  I should be almost pleased at that now.’

And thus it was arranged that all the artillery of Greshamsbury was to be brought to bear at once on Frank’s love, so as to crush it, as it were, by the very weight of metal.