She could hardly go on such a visit without some renewal of her scanty wardrobe, which perhaps the family funds would not permit.

And, as she knew very well, Mrs.Masters was not at all favourable to Lady Ushant.

If the old lady had altogether kept Mary it might have been very well; but she had not done so and Mrs.Masters had more than once said that that kind of thing must be all over;--meaning that Mary was to drop her intimacy with high-born people that were of no real use.

And then there was Mr.Twentyman and his suit.

Mary had for some time felt that her step-mother intended her to understand that her only escape from home would be by becoming Mrs.Twentyman.