"Now, of course, you＇re completely your own mistress and are as free as the bird on the bough.I don＇t mean you were not so before, but you＇re at present on a different footing—property erects a kind of barrier. You can do a great many things if you＇re rich which would be severely criticised if you were poor. You can go and come, you can travel alone,you can have your own establishment: I mean of course if you＇ll take a companion—some decayed gentlewoman, with a darned cashmere and dyed hair,who paints on velvet. You don＇t think you＇d like that?Of course you can do as you please; I only want you to understand how much you＇re at liberty. You might take Miss Stackpole as your dame de compagnie;she＇d keep people off very well. I think, however, that it＇s a great deal better you should remain with me, in spite of there being no obligation. It＇s better for several reasons, quite apart from your liking it. I shouldn＇t think you＇d like it, but I recommend you to make the sacri昀ce. Of course whatever novelty there may have been at 昀rst in my society has quite passed away, and you see me as I am—a dull, obstinate, narrow-minded old woman."