the outside of them he cares for. They are all
gilt, but I doubt if he ever reads. As for her,--I will not allow
any woman to tell me my duty. No;--by my Maker; not even your mother,
who is the best of women. And as for her, with her little husband
dangling at her apron-strings, as a call-whistle to be blown into
when she pleases,--that she should dare to teach me my duty! No! The
men in the jury-box may decide how they will. If they can believe
a plain story, let them! If not,--let them do as they please. I am
ready to bear it all."

"Dear papa, you are tired. Will you not try to sleep?"

"Tell Mrs. Proudie what I say; and as for Arabin's money, I took it. I
know I took it. What would you have had me do? Shall I--see them--all
starve?" Then he fell back upon his bed and did sleep.

The next day he was better, and insisted upon getting out of bed, and
on sitting in his old arm-chair over the fire. And the Greek books
were again had out; and Grace, not at all unwillingly, was put
through her facings. "If you don't take care, my dear," he said,
"Jane will beat you yet. She understands the force of the verbs
better than you do."

"I am very glad that she is doing so well, papa. I am sure I shall
not begrudge her her superiority."

"Ah, but you should begrudge it her!" Jane was sitting by at the
time, and the two sisters were holding each other by the hand.
"Always to be best;--always to be in advance of others. That should
be your motto."

"But we can't both be best, papa," said Jane.

"You can both strive to be best. But Grace has the better voice. I
remember when I knew the whole of the Antigone by heart. You girls
should see which can learn it first."

"It would take such a long time," said Jane.

"You are young, and what can you do better with your leisure hours?
Fie, Jane! I did not expect that from you. When I was learning it I
had eight or nine pupils, and read an hour a day with each of them.
But I think that nobody works now as they used to work then. Where is
your mamma? Tell her I think I could get out as far as Mrs. Cox's, if
she would help me to dress." Soon after this he was in bed again, and
his head was wandering; but still they knew that he was better than
he had been.

"You are more of a comfort to your papa than I can be," said Mrs
Crawley to her eldest daughter that night as they sat together, when
everybody else was in bed.

"Do not say that, mamma. Papa does not think so."

"I cannot