aid Theodora, kindly. 'I am sorry you had so much
to tire you in the morning. Now, come up to your room. I wish I could
carry you, as Arthur does.'

She put her arm round her, helped her tenderly up the stairs, and came
in several times to her room to see that she was comfortable. At the
last good night, Violet whispered, 'Dear Theodora, don't think my
sisters like this--'

'I'll judge them from you, my dear little sister.'

'And you forgive me?'

'To be sure I do. You did as you thought right.' Strange to say,
Theodora had more sympathy for Violet after this awkward evening.

In the middle of the following day, Violet and little Johnnie were
together in the drawing-room, when Arthur came in, 'Well, how are you?
I am only here for two hours, but I wanted to know how you are getting
on.'

'Very well indeed, thank you.'

'Theodora sticks to her flight of Finches, I suppose?'

'She has been so kind! she has given it up.'

You don't mean it. I thought she was ready to go through fire and
water!' cried Arthur, incredulously.

'She has written to refuse.'

'What, Percy brought her to reason?'

'No, he has not been here, but I suppose his opinion influenced her.'

'What in the name of wonder prevailed! I never saw her turn when once
she had taken up a notion.'

'I believe it was that I said you or I must write to her father, and ask
what he wished.'

'So that settled her! Ha! Well done! Theodora forced to give up her
will, and by you! Well, that is the best thing I have heard a long time.
My little Violet to have got the upper hand of Miss Martindale!'
and Arthur burst into such a fit of triumphant laughter as to quite
discomfort Violet, but little Johnnie by her side on the sofa, catching
the infection of merriment, gave, what was very unusual with him, a
regular shout of baby fun, and went on laughing in ecstasy that set
Arthur off on a fresh score. 'So! young man, you think it very funny
that mamma has been too much for Aunt Theodora?'

Theodora could not have chosen a more unlucky moment for walking into
the room! However, it must remain uncertain whether she had heard. The
visible consequence of the late air was exemplary attention to Violet's
comfort; and that doubt, so often balanced in her sister's mind, whether
she loved Percy, now inclined to the affirmative, for there was
a concealed disquietude at his totally absenting himself from
Cadogan-place. They did not see him again till the very day of