I found that this well-born gentleman I had calculated on so surely was not stanch of heart, and that therein lay a danger of great sorrow for my daughter.

Madam, he saw you, and you know the rest....I have come to make no demands--to utter no threats; I have come simply as a father in great grief about this only child, and I beseech you to deal kindly with my daughter, and to do nothing which can turn her husband's heart away from her forever.
Forbid him your presence, ma'am, and speak to him on his duty as one with your power over him well can do, and I am hopeful that the rent between them may be patched up.

For it is not as if you would lose by so doing; your course is far higher than the courses of a simple professional man, and the gratitude you would win from me and mine by your kindness is more than I can say." Mrs.Charmond had first rushed into a mood of indignation on comprehending Melbury's story; hot and cold by turns, she had murmured, "Leave me, leave me!" But as he seemed to take no notice of this, his words began to influence her, and when he ceased speaking she said, with hurried, hot breath, "What has led you to think this of me?
Who says I have won your daughter's husband away from her?
Some monstrous calumnies are afloat--of which I have known nothing until now!" Melbury started, and looked at her simply.

"But surely, ma'am, you know the truth better than I ?" Her features became a little pinched, and the touches of powder on her handsome face for the first time showed themselves as an extrinsic film.

"Will you leave me to myself ?" she said, with a faintness which suggested a guilty conscience.