Warned of that, he did his
utmost to avoid an outbreak of discord, constantly hoping that he
might come to understand his daughter's position, and perhaps
discover that his greatest fear was unfounded.
Twice in the course of the summer he inquired of his wife whether
she knew anything about the Milvains. But Mrs Yule was not in
Marian's confidence.
'I only know that she goes to see the young ladies, and that they
do writing of some kind.'
'She never even mentions their brother to you?'
'Never. I haven't heard his name from her since she told me the
Miss Milvains weren't coming here again.'
He was not sorry that Marian had taken the decision to keep her
friends away from St Paul's Crescent, for it saved him a
recurring annoyance; but, on the other hand, if they had
continued to come, he would not have been thus completely in the
dark as to her intercourse with Jasper; scraps of information
must now and then have been gathered by his wife from the girls'
talk.
Throughout the month of July he suffered much from his wonted
bilious attacks, and Mrs Yule had to endure a double share of his
ill-temper, that which was naturally directed against her, and
that of which Marian was the cause.
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