way
without noticing this remark, "and a sweet, young creature she was,
though she made one mistake that I always regretted. And I know Mr
Goodwin, of course, and respect him, though he's not made of the stuff
that gets on in the world. Still, whatever his position is, you owe him
duty and reverence; and let me tell you, young lady, there may come a
time when you'll be sorry you've not given it. It's all very well, and
very natural, I daresay, to enjoy frolicking about with your gay young
friends now. But youth passes, and pleasure passes, and then we all
have time to remember the duties we didn't stoop to pick up when they
lay at our door."

Anna sat in sulky silence during this long speech, with her eyes cast
down, and a pout on her lips. What right had Mrs Winn to scold her?

Sullen looks, however, had no sort of effect on that lady, and when she
had taken breath, she proceeded to finish her lecture:

"I keep my eyes open, and my ears too, and I know very well, that though
your grandfather says nothing, and is the sort of man to bear any
neglect without complaint, that he feels hurt at your going so seldom to
see him. And, knowing this, it was my duty to come and tell you, as
there was no one else to do it. Your aunt and uncle are not intimate
with him, and Delia Hunt's too young to speak with any weight.--There's
another thing, too, I wanted to mention. Up to yesterday Mr Goodwin
had received no invitation to the Palmers' picnic."

Anna's heart gave a sudden leap of joy. Then she could go to the
picnic!

"I fancy, if she knew this, that Mrs Forrest would neither go herself
nor allow you to do so," continued Mrs Winn. "Considering his
connection with this family, it's a slight to her and her husband as
well as to him. It's extremely strange of the Palmers, when they take
so much notice of you. I almost feel inclined to go on to Pynes this
afternoon and point it out to them!"

She waited, looking at Anna for a reply, but none came, for she was
partly stunned by the force and suddenness of Mrs Winn's attack, and
also filled with alarm at the idea of her going to Pynes. That would
spoil everything. So she sat in silence, nervously twisting her fingers
in her lap, her downcast face strangely unlike that of the usually
bright, self-possessed Anna.

"After all," concluded Mrs Winn, "I'm rather tired, and it's a good
mile farther, so I'll go back over the fields as I came, though the
stiles do try me