If Lucy were to come to the deanery, she must come as
Frank's affianced bride, and must be treated as such by all Bobsborough.
The dean would be giving his express sanction to the marriage, and so
would Mrs. Greystock herself. She knew well that she had no power of
refusing her sanction. Frank must do as he pleased about marrying. Were
Lucy once his wife, of course she would be made welcome to the best the
deanery could give her. There was no doubt about Lucy being as good as
gold; only that real gold, vile as it is, was the one thing that Frank so
much needed. The mother thought that she had discovered in her son
something which seemed to indicate a possibility that this very imprudent
match might at last be abandoned; and if there were such possibility,
surely Lucy ought not now to be brought to the deanery. Nevertheless, if
Frank were to insist upon her coming, she must come.
But Mrs. Greystock had a plan. "Oh, mamma," said Ellinor, when the plan
was proposed to her, "do not you think that would be cruel?"
"Cruel, my dear! no; certainly not cruel."
"She is such a virago."
"You think that because Lizzie Eustace has said so.
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