All that was generous, compassionate, womanly in her nature was up in arms against her grandmother's steward.

Of all other things, Mary Haselden most detested cruelty; and she could see in Steadman's opposition to her wish nothing but the most cold-hearted cruelty to a poor dependent on his charity.
She went in at the stable door, shut and locked it, and put the key in her pocket as usual.

But she had little hope that this mode of access would be left open to her.

She knew enough of James Steadman's character, from hearsay rather than from experience, to feel sure that he would not easily give way.

She was not surprised, therefore, on returning from her ride on the following afternoon, to find the disused harness-room half filled with trusses of straw, and the door of communication completely blocked.