e could not remember the terms which he had used. She had,
however, thought that something which had passed between himself and
Miss Altifiorla had been the immediate cause of the writing of that
letter. She did think that Miss Altifiorla had, as it were, gone over
to the enemy. That she had been prepared to pardon. The enemy had
in fact told no falsehood in his letter. It had been her misfortune
that the story which he had told had been true;--and her further
misfortune that her husband should have believed so much more than
the truth. For all that she did not hold Miss Altifiorla to be
responsible. But when she was told that she had given cause for
mortal offence to two gentlemen, there was something in the phrase
which greatly aggravated her anger. It was as though this would-be
friend was turning against her for her conduct towards Sir Francis.
And she was just as angry that the friend should turn against her
for her conduct to her husband. "Miss Altifiorla," she said, "I must
request that there be no further conversation between us in reference
to the difference between me and my husband."

"Miss Altifiorla!" said the lady. "Is it to come to that,
Cecilia;--between you and me who have enjoyed so much sweet
friendship?"

"Certainly, if you make yourself so offensive," said Mrs. Holt.

"It is the only mode by which I can show that I am in earnest," said
Cecilia. "If it does not succeed, I must declare that I shall be
unwilling to meet you at all. I told you to be silent, and you would
not."

"Oh, very well! If you like to quarrel it will quite suit me. But in
your present condition I hardly think that you are wise in throwing
off your old friends. It is just the time when you ought to cling to
those who would be true to you."

This was more than Cecilia could bear. "I shall cling to those who
are true to me," she said, leaving the room.

"Oh, very well! Then I shall know how to conduct myself." This was
addressed to Mrs. Holt.

"I hope you will conduct yourself, as you call it, somewhere away
from here. You're very fond of meddling, that's the truth; and
Cecilia in her present condition does not want to be meddled with.
Oh, yes; you can go away as soon as ever you please." Thereupon Miss
Altifiorla left the room and withdrew.

It must be explained that this lady, since she was last upon the
scene, had learned to entertain new hopes, very exalted in their
nature. It had first occurred to her during those te