.
That was the beginning and the end of the Dean's comforting. Mrs.
Hippesley could do but little more. She did make an attempt at
confidential conversation, but was soon stopped by Cecilia's cold
manner. Mrs. Western, indeed, could speak to none. She could not
utter a word either for or against her husband. Mrs. Green came, of
course, more than once; but it was the same thing. Mrs. Western could
endure to talk and to be talked to about nothing. And though there
was friendship in it, it was but a subdued feeling of friendship,--of
friendship which under the circumstances had to be made silent. Mrs.
Green when she had taken her leave determined not to come again
immediately, and Mrs. Western when Mrs. Green had gone felt that she
did not wish her to come. She could live with her mother more easily
than with her old friends, because her mother understood the tone of
her mind. Each kept their thoughts to themselves on that subject of
which each was thinking; but each sympathised with the other.

Lady Grant as soon as she understood the condition of things at once
began to correspond with her brother. To her it was a matter of
course that he should, sooner or later, take his wife back again. But
to her thinking it was most important that he should do so before
the fact of their quarrel had been flaunted before the world by an
enduring separation. She wrote in the first instance without throwing
blame upon either party, but calling upon her brother to show the
honesty and honour of his purpose by coming back at once to Durton
Lodge, and receiving Cecilia. "Of course it must be so sooner or
later," said Lady Grant, "and the quicker you do it so much easier
will be the doing." It should be told that Mrs. Holt had, without
telling her daughter in her passion, herself written to Mr. Western.
"You have sacrificed my daughter in your perversity, and that without
the slightest cause for blame." Such had been the nature of Mrs.
Holt's letter, which had reached him but a day before that of his
sister. Lady Grant's appeal had not been of the same nature. She had
said nothing of the sin of either of them; but had written as though
both had been in fault, misunderstanding each other, and neither
having been willing to yield a little. Then she had appealed to
her brother's love and affectionate disposition. It was not till
afterwards that she had been able to inform him of the baby that was
expected.

Mr. Western answered his sister's