ght to do. Was that a
knock at the door?"

"I rather think it was a feeble knock."

It was Mrs Grey, accompanied by Sydney. Mrs Grey's countenance wore
an expression of solemn misery, with a little of the complacency of
excitement under it. The occasion was too great for winks: mute grief
was the mood of the hour. Sydney was evidently full of awe. He seemed
hardly to like to come into the parlour. Margaret had to go to the
door, and laugh at him for his shyness. His mother's ideas were as much
deranged as his own, by the gaiety with which Hester received them,
boasting of the thorough ventilation of the room, and asking whether
Sophia did not think their bonfire surpassed the famous one at the last
election but one. Sophia had not seen anything of the fire of last
night. She had been so much agitated, that the whole family, Mr Grey
and all, had been obliged to exert themselves to compose her spirits.
Much as she had wished to come this morning, to make her inquiries in
person, she had been unable to summon courage to appear in the streets;
and indeed her parents could not press it--she had been so extremely
agitated! She was now left in Alice's charge.

Hester and Margaret hoped that when Sophia found there was nothing more
to fear, and that her cousins were perfectly well, she would be able to
spare Alice for some hours, to wait upon Miss Young. Maria's hostess
was with her now, and Margaret would spend the night with her again, if
a nurse could not be procured before that time. Mrs Grey had not
neglected Maria in her anxiety for her cousins. She was just going to
propose that Alice should be the nurse to-night, and had left word at
Miss Young's door that she herself would visit her for the hour and half
that people were in church. Her time this morning was therefore short.
She was rejoiced to see her young friends look so much like themselves--
so differently from what she had dared to expect. And Mr Hope--it was
not fair perhaps to ask where he was;--he had probably rather not have
it known where he might be found: (and here the countenance relaxed into
a winking frame). Not afraid to show himself abroad! Had been out
twice! and without any bad consequences! It would be a cordial to
Sophia to hear this, and a great relief to Mr Grey. But what courage!
It was a fine lesson for Sydney. If Mr Hope was really only writing,
and could spare a minute, it would be a comfort to see him. Hester went
for