was not
that she thought that she could ask his advice on the matters which
filled her mind, but there probably did come to her vague ideas
of the possibility of some joint action. At any rate she received
him when he came upon the platform with her blandest smile, and
immediately entered into conversation with him respecting the
household of the Westerns. What a stiff man he was, so learned, so
proper, and so distant! It was impossible to get on with him. No
doubt he was very good and all that. But what was their poor dear
Cecilia to do with a man so silent, and one who hated all amusements?
Before the train came up she and Sir Francis were quite on good terms
together; and as they were both going to London they got into the
same carriage.

"Of course he's a prig," said Sir Francis, as they seated themselves
opposite to one another. "But then his wife is a prig too, and I do
not see why they should not suit each other."

"You did not use to think her a prig, Sir Francis."

"No; like other men I made a mistake and was nearly having to pay for
it. But I discovered in time,--luckily for both of us."

"You know," said Miss Altifiorla, "that Cecilia Holt was my dearest
friend, and I cannot endure to hear her abused."

"Abused! You do not think I wish to abuse her. I am awfully fond of
her still. But I do not see why she and Western should not get on
very well together. I suppose they've no secrets from each other," he
added after a pause. Upon this Miss Altifiorla remained silent. "They
tell each other everything I should think." Still Miss Altifiorla
said nothing. "I should imagine that she would tell him everything."

"Upon my word I can't say."

"I suppose she does. About her former engagement, for instance. He
knows the whole story, eh?"

"I declare you put it to me in such a way that one doesn't know how
to answer you."

"Different people have such different opinions about these kind of
things. Some people think that because a girl has been engaged to
a man she never ought to speak to him again when the engagement is
broken. For my part I do not see why they should not be as intimate
as any other people. She looked at me the other day as though she
thought that I ought not to put myself into the same room with her
again. I suppose she did it in obedience to him."

What was Miss Altifiorla to say in answer to such a question? She did
remember her promise, and her promise was in a way binding upon her.
She