other.

"My dear, I wish you would not tease me with what the Greys say. They
say very little that is worth repeating."

"Well, but you must hear this, mamma. Fanny and Mary were walking with
Sophia yesterday, and they met Mrs Hope and Miss Ibbotson in Turn-stile
Lane; and Mrs Hope was crying so, you can't think."

"Indeed! Crying! What, in the middle of the day?"

"Yes; just before dinner. She had her veil down, and she did not want
to stop, evidently, mamma. She--."

"I should wonder if she did," observed Mr Rowland from the other side
of the newspaper he was reading. "If Dr and Mrs Levitt were to come
in the next time you cry, Matilda, you would not want to stay in the
parlour, evidently, I should think. For my part, I never show my face
when I am crying."

"You cry, papa!" cried little Anna. "Do you ever cry?"

"Have you never found me behind the deals, or among the sacks in the
granary, with my finger in my eye?"

"No, papa. Do show us how you look when you cry."

Mr Rowland's face, all dolefulness, emerged from behind the newspaper,
and the children shouted.

"But," said Matilda, observing that her mother's brow began to lower, "I
think it is very odd that Mrs Hope did not stay at home if she wanted
to cry. It is so very odd to go crying about the streets!"

"I dare say Deerbrook is very much obliged to her," said papa. "It will
be something to talk about for a week."

"But what could she be crying for, papa?"

"Suppose you ask her, my dear? Had you not better put on your bonnet,
and go directly to Mr Hope's, and ask, with our compliments, what Mrs
Hope was crying for at four o'clock yesterday afternoon? Of course she
can tell better than anybody else."

"Nonsense, Mr Rowland," observed his lady. "Go, children, it is very
near school-time."

"No, mamma; not by--"

"Go, I insist upon it, Matilda. I will have you do as you are bid. Go,
George: go, Anna.--Now, my love, did I not tell you so, long ago? Do
not you remember my observing to you, how coldly Mr Hope took our
congratulations on his engagement in the summer? I was sure there was
something wrong. They are not happy, depend upon it."

"What a charming discovery that would be!"

"You are very provoking, Mr Rowland! I do believe you try to imitate
Mr Grey's dry way of talking to his wife."

"I thought I had heard you admire that way, my dear."

"For her, yes: it does very well for a woman like her: but I beg you
wil