"Well, it seems very particular of Mr. Sheldon, of course," he said;
"but, upon my word, I think he's right. Such a girl as you oughtn't to go
about with no better protection than Diana can give you. Fellows will
stare so at a pretty girl, you know; and I can't bear to think my pearl
should be stared at by impertinent strangers."
Mr. Hawkehurst did not, however, find the strict notions of his
lady-love's stepfather quite so agreeable when he wanted to take his
"pearl" to the winter exhibitions of pictures. He was told that Miss
Halliday could go nowhere, except accompanied by her mamma; and as Georgy
did not care about pictures, and found herself unequal to the fatigue of
attending the winter exhibitions, he was obliged to forego the delight of
seeing them with Lotta on his arm. He pronounced Mr. Sheldon on this
occasion to be a narrow-minded idiot; but withdrew the remark in a
contrite spirit when Charlotte reminded him of that gentleman's
generosity.
"Yes, dear, he has certainly been very kind and very disinterested--more
disinterested than even you think; but, somehow, I can't make him out."
It was very well for Miss Halliday that she had submitted to this novel
restriction with as good a grace, inasmuch as Mr. Sheldon had prepared
himself for active opposition. He had given orders to his wife, and
further orders to Mrs. Woolper to the effect that his step-daughter
should not be permitted to go out of doors, except in his own or her
mother's company.
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