nd
whatever happens, I hope, my love, we shall all be to the last degree
careful not to see offence where it is not intended."

"Not to do the very thing we are suffering under ourselves," observed
Margaret.

"We will not watch our neighbours, and canvass their opinions of us by
our own fireside," said Hope. "We will conclude them all to be our
friends till they give us clear evidence to the contrary. Shall it not
be so, love?"

"I know what you mean," said Hester, with some resentment in her voice
and manner. "You cannot trust my temper in your affairs: and you are
perfectly right. My temper is not to be trusted."

"Very few are, in the first agonies of unpopularity; and such faith in
one's neighbours as shall supersede watching them ought hardly to be
looked for in the atmosphere of Deerbrook. We must all look to
ourselves."

"I understand you," said Hester. "I take the lesson home, I assure you.
It is clear to me through your cautious phrase,--the `we,' and `all of
us,' and `ourselves.' But remember this,--that people are not made
alike, and are not able, and not intended to feel alike; and if some
have less power than others over their sorrow, at least over their
tears, it does not follow that they cannot bear as well what they have
to bear. If I cannot sit looking as Margaret does, peeling oranges and
philosophising, it may not be that I have less strength at my heart, but
that I have more at stake,--more--"

Hope started from her side, and leaned against the mantelpiece, covering
his face with his hands. At this moment, the boy entered with a message
from a patient in the next street, who wanted Mr Hope.

"Oh, do not leave me, Edward! Do not leave me at this moment!" cried
Hester. "Come back for five minutes!"

Hope quietly said that he should return presently, and went out. When
the hall door was heard to close behind him, Hester flung herself down
on the sofa. Whatever momentary resentment Margaret might have felt at
her sister's words, it vanished at the sight of Hester's attitude of
wretchedness. She sat on a footstool beside the sofa, and took her
sister's hand in hers.

"You are kinder to me than I deserve," murmured Hester: "but, Margaret,
mind what I say! never marry, Margaret! Never love, and never marry,
Margaret!"

Margaret laid her hand on her sister's shoulder, saying,--"Stop here,
Hester! While I was the only friend you had, it was right and kind to
tell me all that was