ust act
for you. Where is Mr Hope?"

"I do not know. Everybody deserts me, I think."

"I will not. It is little I can do; but stay by me: do not leave me. I
will watch for you."

Margaret fell into the common error of the wretched, when she said these
last words. Her brother was at work on her behalf. Hope had gone
towards the ruins with the rest of the party, to keep his eye on
Enderby. Sophia hung on his arm, which she had taken that she might
relieve herself of some thoughts which she could not so well speak to
any one of the strangers of the party.

"Oh, Mr Hope!" cried she, "how very much mistaken we have been in Mr
Walcot all this time! He is a most delightful young man--so refined!
and so domestic!"

"Indeed! You will trust Sydney's judgment more readily another time."

"Yes, indeed. But I could not help telling you. I know you will not be
offended; though some people, perhaps, would not venture to speak so to
you; but I know you will excuse it, and not be offended."

"So far from being offended, I like what you now say far better than the
way I have heard you sometimes speak of Mr Walcot. I have thought
before that you did not allow him fair play. Now, in my turn, I must
ask you not to be offended with me."

"Oh, I never could be offended with you; you are always so good and
amiable. Mamma seemed a little vexed when you encouraged Sydney to
praise Mr Walcot: but she will be delighted at your opinion of him,
when she finds how accomplished he is--and so refined!"

"You speak of my opinion. I have no opinion about Mr Walcot yet,
because I do not know him. You must remember that, though all Deerbrook
has been busy about him since May, I have scarcely heard him say five
words. I do not speak as having any opinion of him, one way or another.
How dark this place looks to-day!--that aisle--how gloomy!"

"I think it is the weather. There is no sun; and the ivy tosses about
strangely. What do you think of the weather?"

"I think we shall have the least possible benefit of the moon. How like
a solid wall those clouds look, low down in the sky!--Here comes Mr
Walcot. Suppose you let him take you after the rest of the party? You
will not like the gloom of that aisle where I am going."

Both Sophia and Mr Walcot much preferred each other's company to the
damp and shadow of the interior of the abbey. They walked off together,
and gathered meadow flowers, and admired poetry and poets till a