The tugging between An Long and Dora paused for a moment, and the former hesitated for a moment, then asked Xiao Tianjian for help: "Father, help me persuade Dora, she wants to take Minna back to her parents' house." The latter stepped on her husband vigorously, snatched the box while he was retreating in pain, turned his head to Xiao Tianjian and said loudly: "I'm sorry, haven't you always thought I was long-winded and boring?" I guess you prefer your best friend's daughter to be your daughter-in-law, right? "After that, I forcibly pulled my daughter and went out.

Minna cried loudly in her mouth, dragging her mother's hand and refusing to leave. She really couldn't understand why her mother suddenly became so angry and took her back to her parents' house. Seeing that her cry could not convince her mother, she turned to her grandfather for help.

It's a pity that Xiao Tianjian is stunned now, and the whole person is stunned, not understanding why his daughter-in-law, who has always been respectful and polite to him, would yell at him. Winnie, who had entered the house at some point, hurriedly explained to him: "I'm really sorry, Lord Count, Miss Dora is just mad, she didn't mean to contradict you, please forgive her." ”

"That's nothing, I'm just a little surprised." The look on Xiao Tianjian's face fully illustrates this point, "I originally thought she was a verbose little hen, but I didn't expect that she was actually a tigress......"

"Oh, Lord Earl, how ...... you say that," Winnie opened her mouth, not knowing how to answer, but she looked at the furious mistress and agreed with him a little.

Seeing this, Dora became even more angry: "Winnie! Didn't I tell you to go find the carriage? Did you find it?! Winnie hurriedly replied, "Oh, miss, in fact I have asked everywhere, and I can only borrow the car of the grocer's nephew, who lives near the docks, and has just delivered to his uncle, and can give us a ride, but the car is probably ...... Some are not very decent. ”

In fact, she had spoken very tactfully, and Dora could see the carriage parked outside the door, drawn by a scrawny old horse, with no carriage or roof, a few straw ropes scattered on the wide board, and two greasy jars in the corner. The young coachman, dressed in a gray shirt with two buttons off his original color, took off his badly worn straw hat and greeted her with a smile, revealing two large yellow teeth.

Dora gasped. Well, this car is really not ...... Decent, the coachman didn't seem very reliable, but she couldn't care so much now, just to get out of the house as soon as possible. In any case, as soon as they reached the pier ten kilometers away, they could change ships and go south along the Babe River to the port of Matter.

So she quickly ordered Winnie, "Go get your things and Minna's box, and we'll leave at once!" Winnie wanted to say something more, but seeing her face, she hurried away.

At this time, Xiao Tianjian had already heard his son explain the matter roughly, although An Long was very anxious, he didn't move, just lowered his head and thought about it, then pulled his son aside and whispered to him, "Just let them leave temporarily." Before I came back, I went to the Northern Fortress to secretly investigate, your boss is really suspicious, and luckily they don't know that you have contacted Veronica yet, but once you leave Qitun and appear somewhere else, you may not be able to hide from him. When the time comes, you and I will escort Veronica to Ito, leaving only your wife and children here, what if Emon takes the opportunity to arrest them and threaten you? Why don't you take this opportunity to let them avoid it, and when the matter is over, you can go and coax your wife back, right? ”

An Long hesitated, although his father's words were reasonable, but he really didn't want his wife to continue to misunderstand, which would seriously damage the relationship between their husband and wife, and: "Then isn't it also dangerous for Uncle Marshall to stay?" Xiao Tianjian frowned slightly and said, "If he leaves, who will take care of your diet and daily life?" What's more, as long as your relatives are not there, who will catch a housekeeper to threaten you? After a pause, he added: "Don't worry, this time when I go back to Ito, I will intercede by the way, if I can transfer you back or send you to another big city, maybe your wife will be happy and forgive you immediately?" ”

An Long's heart moved, turned his head to look at his wife and daughter outside the door, and finally made up his mind.

But Dora didn't know what they were talking about, and when she saw her husband and father-in-law say a few words, she didn't catch up again, and her anger grew even more. There is no turning back now, if she gives in at this time, will An Long still take her in her eyes in the future? She dragged her daughter by as hard as she could, and in spite of the child's protests, she half-pushed and half-lifted her into the carriage, climbed up herself, and when Winnie had scarcely sat down in the carriage, she motioned for the coachman to depart. The carriage they were in staggered and creaked onto the avenue.

At this time, Minna knew that she couldn't convince her mother, so she could only shout to her father and grandfather, hoping that they would come out to stop her mother's behavior, but An Long and Xiao Tianjian just stood by the door and watched them leave, and the latter even disappeared quickly. Only Winnie waved her handkerchief at them, and cried: "Oh, Lord Count, Mademoiselle didn't really do this, we will be back soon, I will miss you, oh, Lord Count......"

When the house gradually disappeared from view, Minna finally accepted the fact that her father and grandfather did not stop her mother from taking her away, and she couldn't help but tense her little face and shrank into the corner of the carriage in a daze.

Why is this so? Dad was still talking about checking his practice of small grappling an hour ago, Grandpa just came back, and I don't know if he had brought himself a gift, why all of a sudden, Mom was so angry, no matter how she cried, she insisted on taking herself back to Grandpa's house? Did Mom and Dad quarrel again? Did Mom know about Aunt Veronica? But they had never quarreled so much, and she didn't want to leave Daddy, Grandpa, and Grandpa Marshall!

I don't know how long it took for her to realize that her mother was also in a daze, and Winnie was full of disgust and wiped the board under her buttocks with a handkerchief, trying to make it cleaner, but she finally didn't say anything unpleasant because she had to rely on the help of the owner for the time being.

Minna cautiously asked her mother, "Mom, are you ...... You quarrel with your father...... Got into a fight? Why? ”

Dora said with a straight face: "Hmph, isn't it just for that vicious woman!" Your dad actually lied to me and said that because that woman was sick, he was going to send her back to Ito! Not even the May Day with us! She looked angry, but when she noticed that the driver was curiously leaning his ear back, she lowered her voice: "Who is he fooling?" That woman is as strong as a cow, how could she get sick so easily?! ”

"But...... She's really sick......" Minna muttered quietly, since her mother already knew, she shouldn't have broken her agreement with her father, right?

"Even if you're sick, ......" Dora suddenly came to her senses and looked at her daughter with wide eyes, "You know?! You already knew that your dad was hiding something from me?! And you didn't tell me?! ”

Minna hesitated, could it be that her mother was so angry because her father didn't tell her about Aunt Veronica's illness? She said inexplicably: "Dad said that if Mom found out, she would quarrel with him, so I was told not to say it." Mom, are you angry about this? ”

Dora was so angry that she couldn't care about the coachman's listening anymore: "You're mad at me!" How can you ...... How can you help your dad hide such a thing from me! You ......"

"Dora?" Suddenly, a male voice came from the side, and a man galloping past on horseback grabbed the reins, turned his horse's head and came to their carriage, "Why are you here?" Minna, Winnie, haven't seen you for a long time, how are you? ”

It's Goodwin Chulov.

======================I'm the dividing line ===================== the transition scene

Two hours later, Dora, with her daughter and nanny, was in Goodwin's temporary residence in the Northern Fortress

Dora looked at the simple but well-made cherry wood furniture in the living room without a trace, and her mood was a little confused, wondering if she should come here. She tried to calm down her daughter, who looked uncomfortable and wanted to leave, and when she saw Goodwin enter the house with the servant tea, she motioned to Winnie, who was standing on the side, to take a good look at Minna.

Goodwin smiled and said to Dora, "I've already given you a tip for that young man, and the luggage is in the next room." How about trying the tea I brought? The taste may not be as good as the black tea of the Xiao family firm, but it is also a popular variety. ”

Dora smiled reluctantly, took a sip of tea, and when she saw the servant go out, she whispered to him, "Thank you so much, I ...... I don't know what to say, you ...... There is really no need to do this. ”

Goodwin smiled, "We're relatives, aren't we?" To be honest, I think you're probably a bit impulsive in this decision, anyway, it's already evening, and it's impossible to get to the docks at this time, at least until tomorrow morning. Leaving you three ladies out there without a reliable person to accompany you is not what I should do. ”

Dora lowered her head, she was calmer now, and she knew how reckless she had been, and she didn't want to think about whether there would be a boat before she set out, let alone where to spend the night when she didn't have one. There were only inferior inns near the docks for coachmen and coolies, and should she be crammed into a house with those rough people?

Seeing this, Goodwin couldn't bear to blame her anymore, so he turned to Minna and said with a smile: "Little Minna, my uncle is going back to Ito recently, and I bought some gifts for my nephew, that is, your lobby brother Bewen, just some small toys made by dwarves, which are used by boys to play knight games, in the room diagonally opposite. But my uncle is really not sure about the children's preferences, I heard that you are a smart child, would you like to help your uncle take a look? Maybe you'd love owning one or two of these? ”

Minna started to guard against him when she saw him, and it was not unmoved to hear him say this, but when she saw him speak in this tone again, she was a little vigilant: Did he start pretending to be a good person again? Is mom going to scold her again?

Seeing that she was just sitting still, Winnie was anxious and hurriedly said, "This is too rare, Miss Minna, don't you like to play knight games very much?" Let's take a look? Then he saluted Dora and Goodwin, and dragged Minna out the door. Minna looked back at her mother, just in time to see her smiling and thanking Goodwin.

The toys, including hats, fake armor, masks, fake knight's swords, and small saddles, were all so elaborately made that they looked exactly like the formal utensils used by adults, but they differed in size and weight, and the swords were not bladed for safety. If before, Minna would have jumped for joy when she saw this, but now, looking at these long-dreamed toys, she suddenly felt that she couldn't arouse her interest. No matter how much Winnie tried to talk and play with her, she just looked diagonally across the room, longing to know what her mother and that Uncle Goodwin were talking about, and why did she seem so sad?

In the living room, Goodwin listened to Dora's story, looked down for a moment, and said, "So, is it because your husband is hiding that you want to go on a solo trip with that Miss Veronica, so you are angry with him?" So......" he paused before continuing, "you actually love your husband, don't you?" Otherwise, you won't be angry. ”

Dora's eyes turned red: "Of course, I'm not afraid of your jokes, until the carriage left, I thought he would stop me, just like before, and give in to me, but I didn't expect ......" She lowered her head and wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.

Goodwin fell silent, his hands clenched into fists under the coffee table and then released, clenched into fists and released again, and after a long time, he suddenly smiled: "It's true, you love him so much, no matter what happens, it won't change." So, for you to be happy, I ...... I'd like to give you a little advice that might help you a little. But before you say it, please promise that you will forgive me, otherwise I won't dare to say it. ”

Dora looked at him gratefully, "Oh, Goodwin, you're so nice. Just say it, I won't blame you anyway. ”

Goodwin smiled, "Actually...... I just think it's irrational for you to leave with the kids and Winnie. I believe in your husband's love for you, but I don't know much about the young lady's temperament. If you say...... When you and the children are away, the young lady says and does something to your husband, but you don't know anything...... I'm afraid it's not a happy situation. ”

Dora froze as if she had been struck by lightning, why didn't she think of it?! She left with the child like this, and the rest of the family now, father-in-law Xiao Tianjian probably prefers the latter between her and Veronica, and Marshall is simply from Anlong's family, and Brie has no weight at all, so wouldn't it just create an opportunity for Anlong and Veronica? How could she be so stupid?!

She took two deep breaths and was about to say goodbye, when she heard Goodwin say, "But if you go back like this now, I'm afraid your husband will think that you have compromised, and it will not be conducive to your husband and wife getting along in the future." What can I do? ”

When Dora heard this, the little determination she had gathered dissipated again. That's right, if you go back at this time, no matter how much you protest in the future, An Long will not be the same, do you want to see him with that woman, and still swallow your anger?!

Goodwin glanced at her quietly and continued, "Maybe it would be a good idea to keep a helper, but ...... I can't imagine your mother and daughter without a maid by your side, and therefore Winnie can't go back. Or...... How about letting your child go back? ”

Dora hesitated: "But that child is too young, and she has never left me, how can I leave her?" ”

"You don't have to worry too much about that, don't you have a very capable housekeeper at home? And with the children here, An Long may not leave home easily. If you can let your child understand a little bit about your situation, it may be a good helper. I believe that it will not be long before your husband will come and pick you up in person. ”

Dora was a little moved, but she couldn't bear to leave the child, and when she was hesitating, Goodwin smiled and said, "You don't have to rush to make a decision on this matter, it's not too early, I'll arrange dinner, and you can rest here tonight." I'm going out after dinner, and I'm not going to spend the night here, so you can just use these rooms. ”

"Oh, this ...... What's so embarrassing about that? Dora said apologetically, "Couldn't it be because of us that you left?" ”

"Of course not, I was originally going to go out on my business, but I just happened to meet you and turned back." Goodwin laughed, "But you don't have to worry, things will be taken care of soon." I had scheduled to leave here tomorrow at noon and go back to Ito, but since you're going back to Port Matt, I'll walk a little more and accompany you there first. Don't worry about the boat. ”

"That's really ...... It's too much trouble, you don't have to. You still have a job, right? How can you delay your business? ”

"It's not a hassle at all, in fact, my deputy is planning to escort a batch of armaments to the naval base in Port Matt tomorrow, and I'm in charge of Ito's side, so I just need to swap them. You wouldn't think I'd let a young lady from a relative's house go on the road without a reliable man, would you? And if you take my downwind boat, you don't have to worry about safety on the road, maybe Anlong will pick you up halfway. He smiled and looked at his pocket watch, "It's not early, I'll go and ask someone to prepare dinner, you can rest first and see you later." ”

As soon as Goodwin left the room, Minna found out, and immediately left the chattering Winnie and rushed to the room where her mother was, but accidentally bumped into a person, fell to the ground, and looked up, only to find that it was a big fat man, bareheaded, with a big beard on his face, looking at himself apologetically: "Oh, child, are you alright?" I'm so sorry I didn't see you in a hurry. ”