She began: "No--" "Then confound his impudence!" the general broke out.

"What business has he to write to you at all about this ?" "Because he couldn't go away without it!" she returned; and she met her father's eye courageously.

"He had a right to think we were his friends; and if he has done wrong, or is in disgrace any way, isn't it manly of him to wish to tell us first himself ?" Her father could not say that it was not.

But he could and did say, very sceptically: "Stuff! Now, see here, Agatha: what are you going to do ?" "I'm going to see Mrs.March, and then--" "You mustn't do anything of the kind, my dear," said her father, gently.
"You've no right to give yourself away to that romantic old goose." He put up his hand to interrupt her protest.

"This thing has got to be gone to the bottom of.