Can You Forgive Her? Chapter XXVI - Lady Midlothian

In which Alice Vavasor encounters the persistent Mr. Bott and the formidable Lady Midlothian at Matching Priory, leading to a tense introduction and a firm refusal to discuss certain family matters. The visitors' arrival and their stark differences in disposition provide a study in character and social constraint, as Alice resolves to maintain her own path despite opposition.