our of the day. "Lady Grant
is strong," she continued, "and can plead for me better than I could
plead myself."

"Plead for you! Why should there be anyone wanted to plead for you?
Will Lady Grant plead with you for her brother?"

"It is not necessary. My own heart pleads for him. It is because he
has been in the wrong that an intercessor is necessary for me. It is
they who commit the injury that have a difficulty in forgiving. If he
came to me do you not know that I should throw myself into his arms
and be the happiest woman in the world without a word spoken?" The
conversation was not then carried further, but Mrs. Holt continued
to shake her head as she sate at her knitting. In her estimation no
husband could have behaved worse than had her son-in-law. And she
was of opinion that he should be punished for his misconduct before
things could be made smooth again.

Some days afterwards Miss Altifiorla called at the house, and sent in
a note while she stood waiting in the hall. In the note she merely
asked whether her "dear Cecilia" would be willing to receive her
after what had passed. She had news to tell of much importance, and
she hoped that her "dear Cecilia" would receive her. There had been
no absolute quarrel, no quarrel known to the servants, and Cecilia
did receive her. "Oh, my dear," she said, bustling into the room with
an air of affected importance, "you will be surprised,--I think that
you must be surprised at what I have to tell you."

"I will be surprised if you wish it," said Cecilia.

"Let me first begin by assuring you, that you must not make light of
my news. It is of the greatest importance, not only to me, but of
some importance also to you."

"It shall be of importance."

"Because you begin with that little sneer which has become so common
with you. You must be aware of it. Amidst the troubles of your own
life, which we all admit to be very grievous, there has come upon
you a way of thinking that no one else's affairs can be of any
importance."

"I am not aware of it."

"It is so a little. And pray believe me that I am not in the least
angry about it. I knew that it would be so when I came to you this
morning; and yet I could not help coming. Indeed as the thing has now
been made known to the Dean's family I could not bear that you should
be left any longer in ignorance."

"What is the thing?"

"There it is again;--that sneer. I cannot tell you unless you will
interest yourself. Doe