so effectually.
Northcote, from the other side of the table, and Reginald from the other
end of the room, gazed and gloomed with discomfited curiosity, wondering
what it could be; while Clarence strutted uneasily about the piano,
taking up his fiddle now and then, striking a note, and screwing up his
strings into concord, with many impatient glances. But still the girls
talked. Was it about their dresses or some nonsense, or was it a more
serious subject, which could thus be discussed without masculine help?
but this matter they never fathomed, nor have they found out till this
hour.

CHAPTER XXXI.

SOCIETY.

Notwithstanding such little social crosses, however, the society at the
Parsonage, as thus constituted, was very agreeable. Mr. May, though he
had his faults, was careful of his daughter. He sat in the drawing-room
every evening till she retired, on the nights their visitors came, and
even when it was Clarence only who remained, an inmate of the house, and
free to go and come as he pleased. Ursula, he felt, must not be left
alone, and though it is uncertain whether she fully appreciated the care
he took of her, this point in his character is worth noting. When the
young party went out together, to skate, for instance, as they did, for
several merry days, Reginald and Janey were, he considered, sufficient
guardians for their sister. Phoebe had no chaperon--"Unless you will take
that serious office upon you, Ursula," she said, shrugging her shoulders
prettily; but she only went once or twice, so well was she able, even
when the temptation was strongest, to exercise self-denial, and show her
perfect power of self-guidance. As for old Tozer and his wife, the idea
of a chaperon never entered their homely head. Such articles are
unnecessary in the lower levels of society. They were anxious that their
child should enjoy herself, and could not understand the reason of her
staying at home on a bright frosty day, when the Mays came to the door
in a body to fetch her.

"No, if they'd have gone down on their knees, nor if I had gone down on
mine, would that girl have left me," cried the old lady, with tears in
her eyes. "She do behave beautiful to her old granny. If so be as I
haven't a good night, no power on earth would make that child go
pleasuring. It's 'most too much at her age."

But Phoebe confided to Ursula that it was not altogether anxiety about
her grandmother.

"I have nobody of my own to go with. I