I do not think she would ever mention his name unless you or I spoke of him before her.

If she did not approve of him, why did she not say so sooner ?" "That's hardly fair upon mamma," said Bell, with some earnestness.
"She does not disapprove of him, and she never did.

You know mamma well enough to be sure that she would not interfere with us in such a matter without very strong reason.

As regards Mr Crosbie, she gave her consent without a moment's hesitation." "Yes, she did." "How can you say, then, that she disapproves of him ?" "I didn't mean to find fault with mamma.

Perhaps it will come all right." "It will come all right." But Bell, though she made this very satisfactory promise, was as well aware as either of the others that the family would be divided when Crosbie should have married Lily and taken her off to London.
On the following morning Mrs Dale and Bell were sitting together.
Lily was above in her own room, either writing to her lover, or reading his letter, or thinking of him, or working for him.