in matters of literary gossip?
    There was an element of jealousy in the father's feeling. If he did not love
Marian with all the warmth of which a parent is capable, at least he had more
affection for her than for any other person, and of this he became strongly
aware now that the girl seemed to be turning from him. If he lost Marian, he
would indeed be a lonely man, for he considered his wife of no account.
Intellectually again, he demanded an entire allegiance from his daughter; he
could not bear to think that her zeal on his behalf was diminishing, that
perhaps she was beginning to regard his work as futile and antiquated in
comparison with that of the new generation. Yet this must needs be the result of
frequent intercourse with such a man as Milvain. It seemed to him that he
remarked it in her speech and manner, and at times he with difficulty restrained
himself from a reproach or a sarcasm which would have led to trouble.
    Had he been in the habit of dealing harshly with Marian, as with her mother,
of course his position would have been simpler. But he had always respected her,
and he feared to lose that measure of respect with which she repaid him. Already
he had suffered in her esteem, perhaps more than he liked to think, and the
increasing embitterment of his temper kept him always in danger of the conflict
he dreaded. Marian was not like her mother; she could not submit to tyrannous
usage. Warned of that, he did his utmost to avoid an outbreak of discord,
constantly hoping that he might come to understand his daughter's position, and
perhaps discover that his greatest fear was unfounded.
    Twice in the course of the summer he inquired of his wife whether she knew
anything about the Milvains. But Mrs Yule was not in Marian's confidence.
    »I only know that she goes to see the young ladies, and that they do writing
of some kind.«
    »She never even mentions their brother to you?«
    »Never. I haven't heard his name from her since she told me the Miss
Milvains weren't coming here again.«
    He was not sorry that Marian had taken the decision to keep her friends away
from St Paul's Crescent, for it saved him a recurring annoyance; but, on the
other hand, if they had continued to come, he would not have been thus
completely in the dark as to her intercourse with Jasper; scraps of information
must now and then have been gathered by his wife from the girls' talk.
    Throughout