es; why should she be silly?'

'Oh! she is very clever.'

'When good and clever people are silly, they are the biggest simpletons
of all.'

'Then I don't think I quite know what you mean by silliness.'

'Not turning one's sense to the best advantage, I suppose,' said
Theodora. 'That Miss Marstone provokes me. If her principles were not
right I should not care; but when she has sound views, to see her go
on talking, with no reserve, only caring for what is out of the way, it
makes one feel oneself turned to ridicule. How can Lady Elizabeth endure
it?'

'I don't think she likes it, but Emma is so fond of her!'

'Oh! as to Emma, her poor little imagination is dazzled. It is
providential that she has four years to wait! Unless, indeed, there is
a reaction, and she marries either a broken-down fox-hunter or a popular
preacher.'

Violet's horrified protests were cut short by the carriage stopping. In
returning, they called at Mrs. Finch's house, to inquire when the family
were expected to return from Paris. They had arrived that morning, and
Violet said she would make a short visit, and then go home and send the
carriage back, but Theodora preferred walking home.

As they were announced, Mrs. Finch started up from a gilded sofa on
which she had been reclining, reading a French brochure. Her dress was
in the excess of the newest Parisian fashion, such as even to London
eyes looked outre, and, as well as her hair, had the disordered look
of being just off a journey. Her face had a worn aspect, and the colour
looked fixed. Theodora, always either rigidly simple or appropriately
splendid, did not like Violet to see her friend in such a condition, and
could almost have shrunk from the eager greeting. 'Theodora Martindale!
This is delightful! It is a real charity to look in on us to-day! Mrs.
Martindale, how are you? You look better than last time I saw you. Let
me introduce you to Mr. Finch.'

Mr. Finch was a little dried-up man, whose ceremonious bow put Violet
in mind of the Mayor of Wrangerton. Bending low, he politely gave her a
chair, and then subsided into oblivion; while Miss Gardner came forward,
as usual, the same trim, quiet, easy-mannered person, and began to talk
to Violet, while Mrs. Finch was loudly conversing with Theodora.

The apartment was much in the same style as the lady's dress, full of
gilding and bright colour, expensive, but not producing a good effect;
especially as the sofa had been dragged f