But Peter would not hear of your turning out of your old home; you know that very well." "Peter would not; but nothing would induce _me_ to live under the same roof as that red-haired minx," said Lady Belstone, firmly.

"And besides, as you say, my dear Mary, you could not very well live by yourself at the Dower House." "Since Mary has been so kind as to mention it, there would be many advantages in our accompanying her there, in case Sarah should succeed in her artful aims," said Miss Crewys.

"It would be near Peter, and yet not _too_ near, and we could keep an eye on _her_." "If she does not succeed, somebody else will," said Lady Belstone, sensibly; "and, at least, we know her faults, and can put Peter on his guard against them." A host of petty and wretched recollections poured into Lady Mary's mind as she listened to these words.
Poor Timothy; poor little hunted, scolded, despairing bride; poor married life--of futile reproaches and foolish quarrelling.
How many small miseries she owed to those ferret searching eyes, and those subtly poisonous tongues! But such miseries lurked in the dull shadows of the past.

Standing now in the bright sunshine of the present, she forgave the sisters with all her heart, and thought compassionately of their great age, their increasing infirmities, their feeble hold on life.
Not to them did she owe real sorrow, after all; for nothing that does not touch the heart can reach the fountain of grief.
Peter's hand--the hand she loved best in the world--had set the waters of sorrow flowing not once, but many times; but she had become aware lately of a stronger power than Peter's guarding the spring.
She looked from one sister to the other.
Despite the narrowness of brow, and sharpness of eye and feature, they were both venerable of aspect, as they tottered up and down the terrace where they had played in their childhood and sauntered through youth and middle age to these latter days, when they leant upon silver-headed sticks, and wore dignified silk attire and respectable poke-bonnets.
"Don't you think it would be better," said Lady Mary, slowly, "if you left Peter to find out his wife's faults for himself; whether she be Sarah--or another ?".