Mrs.Roughsedge, who had been Diana's first protector, saw herself supplanted--not without a little natural chagrin.
The controversy of the moment was submitted to Marsham, who decided hotly against the Vicar, and implored Diana to stand firm.

But somehow his intervention only hastened the compunction that had already begun to work in her.

She followed the Roughsedges to the door when they departed.
"What must I do ?" she said, sheepishly, to Mrs.Roughsedge.

"Write to him ?" "The Vicar?
Oh, dear Miss Mallory, the doctor will settle it.

You _would_-change the books ?" "Mother!" cried Hugh Roughsedge, indignantly, "we're all bullied--you know we are--and now you want Miss Mallory bullied too." "'Who would be free, themselves must strike the blow,'" laughed Marsham, in the background, as he stood toying with his tea beside Mrs.Colwood.
Diana shook her head.
"I can't be friends with him," she said, naively, "for a long long time.
But I'll rewrite my list.