What could he do ? He loved his children as deeply as any father could and he knew , past the power of Mrs. Davis or any of her ilk , to disturb his conviction , that they loved him devotedly . But WAS he fit to have charge of them ? He knew -- none better -- his weaknesses and limitations . What was needed was a good woman 's presence and influence and common sense . But how could that be arranged ? Even were he able to get such a housekeeper it would cut Aunt Martha to the quick . She believed she could still do all that was meet and necessary . He could not so hurt and insult the poor old woman who had been so kind to him and his . How devoted she had been to Cecilia ! And Cecilia had asked him to be very considerate of Aunt Martha . To be sure , he suddenly remembered that Aunt Martha had once hinted that he ought to marry again . He felt she would not resent a wife as she would a housekeeper . But that was out of the question . He did not wish to marry -- he did not and could not care for anyone . Then what could he do ? It suddenly occurred to him that he would go over to Ingleside and talk over his difficulties with Mrs. Blythe . Mrs. Blythe was one of the few women he never felt shy or tongue-tied with . She was always so sympathetic and refreshing . It might be that she could suggest some solution of his problems .
And even if she could not Mr. Meredith felt that he needed a little decent human companionship after his dose of Mrs. Davis -- something to take the taste XXXXX her out of his soul .
Blythe Ingleside Martha as for of past that to with