"Though that doesn't mean that I'm going to talk about it with you." Mrs.Folliot made an effort to understand this remark, and after inspecting her hostess critically for a moment, proceeded in her most judicial manner.
"You must see, my dear Miss Bewery, that it is highly necessary that some one should use the utmost persuasion on Dr.Ransford," she said.
"He is placing all of you--himself, yourself, your young brother--in most invidious positions by his silence! In society such as--well, such as you get in a cathedral town, you know, no man of reputation can afford to keep silence when his--his character is affected." Mary picked up some needlework and began to be much occupied with it.
"Is Dr.Ransford's character affected ?" she asked.

"I wasn't aware of it, Mrs.Folliot." "Oh, my dear, you can't be quite so very--so very, shall we say ingenuous ?--as all that!" exclaimed Mrs.Folliot.

"These rumours!--of course, they are very wicked and cruel ones, but you know they have spread.

Dear me!--why, they have been common talk!" "I don't think my guardian cares twopence for common talk, Mrs.
Folliot," answered Mary.

"And I am quite sure I don't." "None of us--especially people in our position--can afford to ignore rumours and common talk," said Mrs.Folliot in her loftiest manner.