very amusing. Violet was so tired that it was a
trouble to speak; but she liked to hear the brother and sister discuss
the ball, and laugh over the people; and leant back in her corner so
comfortably, that she only dreaded the moment of rousing herself to walk
up-stairs.

Theodora never stopped talking all the way, sprung nimbly out of the
carriage, ran up the steps, and admired the morning sky; and Violet
believed she did not go to bed at all, for it seemed a very short time
before the distant notes of the singing class were heard; yet she looked
as fresh and blooming as ever when they met at breakfast, and did not
flag in any of her usual employments.

The other ladies were capable of nothing but loitering; and it was a day
for making great advances in intimacy. Most delightful was that first
friendship, as they wandered arm-in-arm, talked gravely or gaily, and
entered more and more into each other's minds. Theodora held aloof,
despising their girlish caressing ways, and regarding the intimacy with
the less toleration because it was likely to serve as a pretext to Mrs.
Nesbit for promoting her views for John; and though the fewest words
possible had passed between him and Miss Brandon, she found that Mrs.
Nesbit was building hopes on the satisfaction he showed in conversing
with Lady Elizabeth. The visit ended with a warm invitation to Mr. and
Mrs. Arthur Martindale to come and stay at Rickworth before they left
the country.

CHAPTER 6

Is it that they have a fear
Of the dreary season near,
Or that other pleasures be
Sweeter even than gaiety?
--WORDSWORTH

Were they to leave the country? This was still under consideration.
The next fortnight made some difference in Theodora's wishes respecting
Brogden Cottage. Violet becoming less timid, ventured to show that she
took interest in poor people; and Theodora was pleased by finding her
able to teach at school, and to remember the names of the children.
Especially her sweet looks and signs gained the heart of little Charley
Layton, the dumb boy at the lodge--the creature on whom Theodora
bestowed the most time and thought. And on her begging to be shown the
dumb alphabet, as the two sisters crossed fingers, they became, for one
evening, almost intimate.

Theodora began to think of her as not only harmless, but likely to be
useful in the parish; and could afford to let Arthur have her for
a plaything, since he ma