its
neighbourhood provided. But since Sukey's marriage it had deepened
into something like a mania, and now, in Hetty's case, flared up with
a passion incomprehensible if not quite insane. He declared his
hatred of lawyers--and certainly he had suffered at their hands: he
forbade the young man to visit the house, to correspond with Hetty,
even to see her.

Mrs. Wesley watched her daughter and was troubled. The Rector's veto
had been effective enough once or twice with Hetty's sisters.
Emilia, on a visit with her uncle Matthew in London, had fallen
passionately in love with a young Oxonian named Leybourne. But Sam's
wife had discovered something to his discredit and had spoken to Sam,
and Sam to the Rector. The match was broken off, and Emilia
renounced her love, though she never forgave the mischief-maker.
Patty again had formed an attachment for John Romley, who had been a
pupil of Sam's, had afterwards graduated at Lincoln College, Oxford,
and was now the ambitious young master of the Free School at Epworth.
Again the Rector interfered, and Patty sighed and renounced her
romance. Would Hetty, too, renounce and acquiesce? Mrs. Wesley
doubted: nay, was even afraid. Hetty alone had never been overawed
by her father, had never acknowledged the _patria potestas_ with all
its exorbitant claims. She had never actually revolted, but she
defied, somehow, the spell he had cast upon the others: and somehow--
here was the marvel--Mrs. Wesley, who more than any other of the
family had yielded to the illusion and fostered it, understood Hetty
the better for her independence. The others, under various kinds of
pressure, had submitted: but here was the very woman she might have
been, but for her own submission! And she feared for that woman.
Hetty must leave Wroote, or there was no knowing how it might end.

"Mother, I believe you are afraid of what I may do."

Mrs. Wesley, incapable of a lie or anything resembling it, bent her
head. "I have been afraid, once or twice," she said.

"So you send me away? That seems to me neither very brave nor very
wise. Will there be less danger at Kelstein?"

Her mother started. "Does _he_ know of your going? You don't tell
me he means to visit you there?"

"Forgive me, dearest mother, but your first question is a little
foolish--eh?" Hetty laughed and quoted:

"But if she whom Love doth honour
Be conceal'd from the day--
Set a thousand guards upon her,