As for Mr.Ratcliffe, she felt no difficulty in dealing with him.
Let Mr.Ratcliffe, and his brother giants, wander on their own political prairie, and hunt for offices, or other profitable game, as they would.
Their objects were not her objects, and to join their company was not her ambition.

She was no longer very angry with Mr.Ratcliffe.She had no wish to insult him, or to quarrel with him.

What he had done as a politician, he had done according to his own moral code, and it was not her business to judge him; to protect herself was the only right she claimed.

She thought she could easily hold him at arm's length, and although, if Carrington had written the truth, they could never again be friends, there need be no difficulty in their remaining acquaintances.
If this view of her duty was narrow, it was at least proof that she had learned something from Mr.
Ratcliffe; perhaps it was also proof that she had yet to learn Mr.
Ratcliffe himself.
Two o'clock had struck before Mrs.Lee came down from her chamber, and Sybil had not yet made her appearance.

Madeleine rang her bell and gave orders that, if Mr.Ratcliffe called she would see him, but she was at home to no one else.