craps which he used to talk about without exciting any interest in
them. They honestly denied having devoted any more time to Latin than
before, or having taken any more pains; and no new methods have been
tried. Here was a mystery. To-day they have solved it. They find that
all is owing to their getting up earlier in the morning to teach those
little orphans, the Woods, to read and sew."

"Not a very circuitous process," said Margaret; "love and kind interest,
energy and improvement--whether in Latin or anything else. But what did
you mean just now about truth? What should make the Greys otherwise
than truthful?"

"Oh, not the Greys! I was thinking of the other family when I said
that. But that is a large subject: let us leave it till after tea.
Will you give me another cup?"

"Now; shall we begin upon our large subject?" said she, as the door
closed behind the tea-tray and kettle, and Margaret handed her her
work-bag.

"I am aware that I asked for it," replied Margaret; "but it is a
disagreeable topic, and perhaps we had better avoid it."

"You will take me for a Deerbrook person, if I say we will go into it,
will not you?"

"Oh, no: you have a reason, I see. So, why should not the little
Rowlands be truthful?"

"Because they have so perpetual an example of falsehood before them at
home. I have made some painful discoveries there lately."

"Is it possible you did not know that woman long ago?"

"I knew her obvious qualities, which there is no need to specify: but
the depth of her untruth is a new fact to me."

"Are you sure of it, now?"

"Quite sure of it in some particulars, and strongly suspecting it in
others. Do not tell your sister anything of what I am going to say,
unless you find it necessary for the direction of her conduct. Let your
disclosures be rather to Mr Hope. That is settled, is it? Well, Mrs
Rowland's ruling passion just now is hatred to your household."

"I suspected as much. But--the untruth."

"Wait a little. She dislikes you, all and severally."

"What, my brother?"

"Oh, yes; for marrying into the Grey connection so decidedly. Did you
ever hear that before?"

Margaret laughed; and her friend went on--

"This capture and imprisonment of her mother (for the poor old lady is
not allowed to see whom she pleases) is chiefly to get her from under
Mr Hope's care. I fancy, from her air, and from some things she has
dropped, that she has some grand _coup-de-theatre