ers with long statements about
Sir Francis which had no interest whatsoever, but which required to
be at once destroyed. She soon learnt in her married life that her
husband had no wish to see her letters. She would so willingly have
shown them to him, would have taken such a joy in asking for his
sympathy, such a delight in exposing Miss Altifiorla's peculiar views
of life, that she lost much by her constrained reticence. But this
necessity of destroying papers was very grievous to her. Though she
knew that he would not read the letters without her permission, still
she must destroy them. In every possible way she endeavoured to
silence her correspondent, not answering her at first; and then
giving her such answers as were certainly not affectionate. But in
no way would Miss Altifiorla be "snubbed." Then after a while she
proposed to come and stay a week at Durton Lodge. This was not to
be endured. The very thought of it filled poor Mrs. Western's heart
with despair. And yet she did not like to refuse without telling her
husband. Of Miss Altifiorla she had already made mention, and Mr.
Western had been taught to laugh at the peculiarities of the old
maid. "Pray do not have her," she said to him. "She will make you
very uncomfortable, and my life will be a burden to me."

"But what can you say to her?"

"No room," suggested Cecilia.

"But there are two rooms."

"I know there are. But is one to be driven by a strict regard for
literal truth to entertain an unwelcome friend? Miss Altifiorla
thought that I ought not to have married you, and as I thought I
ought we had some words about it."

"Whom did she want you to marry?" asked Mr. Western with a laugh.

"Nobody. She is averse to marriage altogether."

"Unless she was the advocate of some other suitor, I do not see that
I need quarrel with her. But she is your friend and not mine, and if
you choose to put her off of course you can do so. I would advise you
to find something more probable than the want of a bedroom in a house
in which one is only occupied."

There was truth in this. What reason could she find? Knowing her
husband's regard to truth she did not dare to suggest any reason
to her friend more plausible than the want of a room, but still
essentially false. She was driven about thinking that she would get
her husband to take her away from home for awhile--for two or three
days. The letter remained unanswered, when her husband suggested
to her that she