njust in her judgment of
her, and her motives, and she was startled to discover the strength of
her feelings of dislike. Many times she found herself on the point of
dissenting from opinions, or opposing plans proposed by Mrs Grove, with
which she might have agreed had they come from any one else. It is true
her opinions and plans were not generally of a nature to commend
themselves to Graeme's judgment, and there was rather apt to be more
intended by them than at first met the eye and ear. As Miss Fanny said
on one occasion, "One could never tell what mamma meant by what she
said," and the consequence often was an uncomfortable state of
expectation or doubt on the part of those who were included in any
arrangement dependent on mamma. Yet, her schemes were generally quite
harmless. They were not so deep as to be dangerous. The little
insincerities incident to their almost daily intercourse, the small
deceits made use of in shopping, marketing, making visits, or sending
invitations, were no such mighty matters as to jeopardise the happiness,
or even the comfort of any one with eyes keen enough to detect, and with
skill and will to circumvent them. So Graeme said to herself many a
time, and yet, saying it she could not help suffering herself to be made
uncomfortable still.

The respect and admiration which Mrs Grove professed for Miss Elliott
might have failed to propitiate her, even had she given her credit for
sincerity. They were too freely expressed to be agreeable under any
circumstances. Her joy that the Elliotts were still to form one
household, that her dear thoughtless Fanny was to have the benefit of
the elder sister's longer experience and superior wisdom, was great, and
her surprise was great also, and so was her admiration. It was so dear
in Miss Elliott to consent to it. Another person might have resented
the necessity of having to take the second place, where she had so long
occupied the first in her brother's house. And then to be superceded by
one so much younger than herself, one so much less wise, as all must
acknowledge her dear Fanny to be, was not, could not, be pleasant. Miss
Elliott must be a person possessing extraordinary qualities, indeed.
How could she ever be grateful enough that her wayward child was to have
the advantage of a guardianship so gentle and so judicious as hers was
sure to be! She only hoped that Fanny might appreciate the privilege,
and manifest a proper and amiabl