'You have frightened Rachel out of the room, for one thing,' answered he
with a sneer.

'I simply asked her what she urged you to do--I think I have a claim to
know. It is strange so reasonable a question from a wife should scare
your sister from the room.'

'I don't quite see that--for my part, I don't think _anything_ strange in
a woman. Rachel has been talking the rankest nonsense, in the most
unreasonable temper conceivable; and because she can't persuade me to
accept her views of what is Christian and sensible, she threatens to go
mad--I think that is her phrase.'

'I don't think Rachel is a fool,' said Dorcas, quietly, her eye still
upon Stanley.

'Neither do I--when she pleases to exert her good sense--but she can,
when she pleases, both talk and act like a fool.'

'And pray, what does she want you to do, Stanley?'

'The merest nonsense.'

'But what is it?'

'I really can hardly undertake to say I very well understand it myself,
and I have half-a-dozen letters to write; and really if I were to stay
here and try to explain, I very much doubt whether I could. Why don't you
ask _her_? If she has any clear ideas on the subject I don't see why she
should not tell you. For my part, I doubt if she understands herself--_I_