If Ethel were privy to these manoeuvres, or anything
more than an unwittingly consenting party, I say we would depose her from
her place of heroine at once. But she was acting under her grandmother's
orders, a most imperious, irresistible, managing old woman, who exacted
everybody's obedience, and managed everybody's business in her family.
Lady Anne Newcome being in attendance on her sick husband, Ethel was
consigned to the Countess of Kew, her grandmother, who hinted that she
should leave Ethel her property when dead, and whilst alive expected the
girl should go about with her. She had and wrote as many letters as a
Secretary of State almost. She was accustomed to set off without taking
anybody's advice, or announcing her departure until within an hour or two
of the event. In her train moved Ethel, against her own will, which would
have led her to stay at home with her father, but at the special wish and
order of her parents. Was such a sum as that of which Lady Kew had the
disposal (Hobson Brothers knew the amount of it quite well) to be left
out of the family? Forbid it, all ye powers! Barnes--who would have liked
the money himself, and said truly that he would live with his grandmother
anywhere she liked if he could get it,--Barnes joined most energetically
with Sir Brian and Lady Anne in ordering Ethel's obedience to Lady Kew.
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