She knew but little of Dora Bannister and had no reason to suppose that any matrimonial connection between her and Mr.Haverley had ever been thought of; in fact, in the sincerity and naturalness of her disposition, she could see no reason why she should not continue to like Mr.Haverley, to like him better and better, if he gave her reason to do so, and more than that, not to forget the hypothesis regarding him.
La Fleur was not capable of comprehending the situation with the sagacity and insight of Miss Panney, but she was a woman of sense, and was now well convinced that it would never do to speak again to Miss Cicely in the way she had spoken to her in Dr.Tolbridge's hall.

In her affection and enthusiasm, she had gone too far that time, and she knew that any further suggestions of the sort would be apt to make the girl fly away like a startled bird.

Whatever was to be done must be done without the cooeperation of the young lady.
Miss Panney's letter to Dora Bannister contained some mild reproaches for the latter's departure from Thorbury without notice to her oldest friend, but her scolding was not severe, and there was as much pleasant information and inquiry as the writer could think of.

Moreover, the epistle contained the suggestion that Dora should invite Miriam Haverley to come down and spend some time with her while she was at the seashore.

This suggestion none but a very old friend would be likely to make, but Miss Panney was old enough for anything, in friendship or in any other way.
"My mind was on Miriam Haverley," the old lady wrote, "at the moment I heard that you had gone to Barport, and it struck me that a trip of the sort is exactly what that young person needs.