Ingleton tartly, "that Sylvia is a
most wilful and perverse girl, and I think you are very unwise to
put up with her whims. I should be ashamed to have a girl of that
age still on my hands."
"I'd like to know how you'd have managed her any differently,"
muttered the squire, without looking up.
Mrs. Ingleton laughed unpleasantly. "You don't know much about
women, do you, my dear? Of course I could have managed her
differently. She'd have been comfortably married for the past two
years at least if I had been in command."
Ingleton looked sourly incredulous. "You don't know Sylvia," he
observed. "She has a will like cast-iron. You'd never move her."
Mrs. Ingleton tossed her head. "Never? Well, look here! If you
want the girl to marry that really charming Mr. Preston, I'll
undertake that she shall--and that within a year. How is that?"
Ingleton stared a little, then slowly shook his head. "You'll
never do it, my dear Caroline."
"I will do it if it is your wish," said Mrs. Ingleton firmly.
He looked at her with a touch of uneasiness. "I don't want the
child coerced."
She laughed again. "What an idea! Are children ever coerced in
these days? It's usually the parents who have to put up with that
sort of treatment. Now tell me about the other man. What and
where is he?"
Ingleton told her with surly reluctance.
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