ying, and
shaking hands with their great horny fists. I fancy "our young lady," as
they call her, is the strongest anti-chartist argument.'

Though talking in this animated manner he was far from strong, and
went away early, looking thoroughly tired. Theodora had stitched away
throughout the conversation in silence; but Violet knew, by the
very fixity of her eye, that she was feeling it deeply and there was
consciousness in the absence of word or look, with which she let the
Earl bid her good night. It was a strange thing to have been in part the
means of forming so noble a character, and yet to regard her share in it
with nothing but shame.

Self-reproachful and unhappy, Theodora went to take her turn of watching
her brother for the first part of the night. She could not have borne
to be told, what was in fact the case, that he was generally more
uncomfortable under her care than that of any one else, chiefly because
there was not the restraint either of consideration for his wife, or of
the authority of his father. Besides, she was too visibly anxious,
too grave and sad, to find anything cheerful with which to divert his
attention; and he was sure to become restless and exacting, or else
depressed, either as to his illness or his affairs.

To-night he had discovered Lady Elizabeth's visit, and was anxious to
know whether Gardner had broken with Miss Brandon. Theodora would not
encourage his talking; and this teased him, only making him say more
till she had told all, adding, 'O Arthur! what a comfort it must be that
this is brought upon you by your having tried to save Emma!'

'Not much of that. It was Violet. I would have stopped her writing if I
could.'

Perhaps this downfall of the heroism with which she had been endowing
his resistance, was one of the most cruel blows of all.

'If he marries Mrs. Finch, he must at least pay off what he owes me;'
and he began perplexing himself with reckonings. Theodora saw his brow
drawn together, and his lips moving, and begged him to desist and try to
sleep.

'You have interrupted me--I have lost it!' and he tried again. 'No, I
can't get it right. There is a lot of papers in my writing-case. You'll
see to it. It will be something for Violet and the children. Mind the
claim is sent in;' and again he strove to explain, while she entreated
him to put such things out of his mind; and it ended in such violent
coughing, that Lord Martindale heard, came in, and with a look that