e a degree of estrangement
between the sisters, which each, unconscious of in herself, could detect
in the other. "I think Milly has grown colder to me of late, aunt She is
not less kind or attentive, but there is a something of constraint about
her I cannot fathom," would Florence say to her aunt While the other
whispered, "I wonder why Florry is so silent when we are alone together?
She that used to tell me all her thoughts, and speak for hours of what
she hoped and wished, now only alludes to some commonplace topic--the
book she has just read, or the walk we took yesterday."

The distance between them was not the less wide that each had secretly
confided to Calvert her misgivings about the other. Indeed, it would
have been, for girls so young and inexperienced in life, strange not to
have accorded him their confidence. He possessed a large share of that
quality which very young people regard as sagacity. I am not sure that
the gift has got a special name, but we have all of us heard of some one
"with such a good head," "so safe an adviser," "such a rare counsellor
in a difficulty," "knowing life and mankind so well," and "such an
aptitude to take the right road in a moment of embarrassment." The
phoenix is not usually a man of bright or showy qualities; he is, on
the contrary, one that the world at large has failed to recognise. If,
however, by any chance he should prove to be smart, ready-witted, and a
successful talker, his sway is a perfect despotism. Such was Calvert; at
least such was he to the eyes of these sisters. Now Emily had confided
to him that she thought Loyd totally unworthy of Florence. His good
qualities were undeniable, but he had few attractive or graceful ones;
and then there was a despondent, depressed tone about him that must
prove deeply injurious to one whose nature required bright and cheery
companionship. Calvert agreed with every word of this.

Florence, on her side, was, meanwhile, imparting to him that Loyd was
not fairly appreciated by her aunt or her sister. They deemed him very
honourable, very truthful, and very moral, but they did not think highly
of his abilities, nor reckon much on his success in life. In fact,
though the words themselves were spared her, they told her in a hundred
modes that "she was throwing herself away;" and, strange as it may read,
she liked to be told so, and heard with a sort of triumphant pride that
she was going to make a sacrifice of herself and all her p