odora to join the party alone without
remonstrance, and without the knowledge of her parents, would be
improper. She resolved not to confuse herself with fears and anxieties,
and strove to dwell on whatever could steady or calm her mind for the
undertaking. How wide a difference in moral courage there was between
that tall grenadier and his timid delicate wife.

Arthur and Theodora were both down-stairs before her, and the latter was
preparing breakfast, when there was a knock. 'Percy!' she thought. 'He
shall see how useless it is to interfere!'

'Mr. Albert Moss!'

Arthur threw aside his newspaper, and held out his hand with a fair
show of welcome. 'Ha! Moss, how are you? Your sister will be down-stairs
directly. Miss Martindale--'

Theodora was resolved against being supercilious, but Mr. Moss's
intention of shaking hands obliged her to assert her dignity by a
princess-like inclination.

'Good morning,' said Albert. 'I came to town yesterday--slept at my
uncle's--have this day in London--much occupied--thought myself sure of
you at breakfast.'

'I will tell Mrs. Martindale,' said Theodora, glad to escape that she
might freely uplift her eyes at his self-sufficiency, and let her pity
for Arthur exhale safely on the stairs.

She met Violet, and was vexed at her start of joy, only consoling
herself by thinking that she did not look as if she was his sister.
Indeed, after the momentary instinct of gladness, came fears lest
Arthur might not be pleased, and Theodora be annoyed; but the familiar
home-like voice drove away all except pleasure as soon as she was
certified that her husband's brow was smooth. His presence was a
restraint, keeping Albert on his best behaviour, so that there
was nothing to disturb her present enjoyment of home tidings. That
good-humour and ease of his were indeed valuable ingredients of comfort.

He asked Albert to dinner, and desired him to bring Uncle Christopher,
if they chose to be entertained by the ladies alone, further offering
him a seat in his cab as far as their roads lay together. Highly
gratified, Albert proceeded to ask his sister whether she was able to
execute a commission for Matilda, the matching of a piece of chenille.
Violet readily undertook it, and he said, 'he would explain the occasion
on his return.'

When they were gone, the cares of the morning returned upon her, and
by the time her household affairs were finished, all her pulses were
throbbing at the prospect