llow the false assertion to pass unnoticed. If he could find a
comfort in that let him have it. Perhaps upon the whole it would be
better that some such story should go forth in Exeter. It could not
be told by her because it was untrue; but for the moment she thought
that she might pass it by without notice. "There can be no fresh
beginning," she said. "We two have already come to the end of all
that is likely to take place between us. Dear Maude, pray do not
trouble me. No doubt as time goes by we shall talk of it all again.
But just at present, circumstanced as you are with him, nothing but
silence between you and me can be fitting. I hope that you and I at
any rate will never quarrel."

After that she told her mother and her two other friends. Her mother
was for a week or two in despair. She endeavoured by means of the
family at the Deanery to bring about some reconciliation. The Dean,
who did not in truth like his brother-in-law and was a little afraid
of him, altogether refused to interfere in the matter. Mrs. Hippesley
was of opinion that the lovers would be sure to "come round" if left
to themselves. Maude who, though she had not liked her uncle, had
thought much of his position, and had been proud of the idea that
he should marry an Exeter girl and her own peculiar friend, was in
despair. But the Deanery collectively refused to take active steps in
the matter. Mrs. Green was of opinion that Cecilia must have behaved
badly. There had been some affair of pride in which she had declined
to give way. According to Mrs. Green's ideas a woman could hardly
yield too much to a man before marriage, so as to secure him, in
order that her time for management might come afterwards. With Miss
Altifiorla, Cecilia found for awhile more comfort; but even from this
noted hater of the other sex the comfort was not exactly of the kind
she wanted. Miss Altifiorla was of opinion that men on the whole are
bad, but seemed to think that among men this baronet was not a bad
specimen. He did not want a great deal of attention and was fairly
able to get about by himself without calling upon his future wife to
be always with him. Then he had a title and an income and a house;
and was in short one of those who are in a measure compelled to
marry. Miss Altifiorla thought it a pity that the match should be
broken off, but was quite ready to console her friend as to the
misfortune.

There was one point as to which Cecilia was quite decided, a