'we cannot make conditions with you. Without conditions, and under present circumstances, the girl is quite misplaced here and had better go. I have told her so. Would you wish to have her sent back to the village, or would you like to take her with you, or what would you prefer?'
"'Lady Dedlock, if I may speak plainly'
"'By all means.'
"'I should prefer the course which will the sooner relieve you of the encumbrance, and remove her from her present position.'
"'And to speak as plainly,' she returns, with the same studied carelessness, "'so should I. Do I understand that you will take her with you?'
"The iron-gentleman makes an iron bow.
"'Sir Leicester and Lady Dedlock,' says Mr. Rouncewell, after a pause of a few moments; 'I beg to take my leave with an apology for having again troubled you. I can very well understand, I assure you, how very tiresome so small a matter must have become to Lady Dedlock. If I am doubtful on my dealing with it, it is only because I did not at first quietly exert my influence to take my young friend here away without troubling you at all. I hope you will excuse my want of acquaintance with the polite world."
As a matter of fact, certain rumours against
Lady Dedlock's reputation, and hints as to her
"past," have come to the ears of the honest tradesman,
and he prefers to remove his son's betrothed
wife from the contact of a possible pernicious influ-
