buckles, golden tagged bobbins, and mechanical petticoats--as
regarded shoes, and gloves, and corsets, and stockings, and linen,
and flannel, and calico--money, I may conscientiously assert, was no
object. And, under these circumstances, Griselda Grantly went to work
with a solemn industry and a steady perseverance that was beyond all
praise. "I hope she will be happy," Mrs. Arabin said to her sister,
as the two were sitting together in the dean's drawing-room.

"Oh, yes; I think she will. Why should she not?" said the mother.

"Oh, no: I know of no reason. But she is going up into a station so
much above her own in the eyes of the world that one cannot but feel
anxious for her."

"I should feel much more anxious if she were going to marry a poor
man," said Mrs. Grantly. "It has always seemed to me that Griselda
was fitted for a high position; that nature intended her for rank and
state. You see that she is not a bit elated. She takes it all as if
it were her own by right. I do not think that there is any danger
that her head will be turned, if you mean that."

"I was thinking rather of her heart," said Mrs. Arabin.

"She never would have taken Lord Dumbello without loving him," said
Mrs. Grantly, speaking rather quickly.

"That is not quite what I mean either, Susan. I am sure she would
not have accepted him had she not loved him. But it is so hard to
keep the heart fresh among all the grandeurs of high rank; and it is
harder for a girl to do so who has not been born to it, than for one
who has enjoyed it as her birthright."

"I don't quite understand about fresh hearts," said Mrs. Grantly,
pettishly. "If she does her duty, and loves her husband, and fills
the position in which God has placed her with propriety, I don't know
that we need look for anything more. I don't at all approve of the
plan of frightening a young girl when she is making her first outset
into the world."

"No; I would not frighten her. I think it would be almost difficult
to frighten Griselda."

"I hope it would. The great matter with a girl is whether she has
been brought up with proper notions as to a woman's duty. Of course
it is not for me to boast on this subject. Such as she is, I, of
course, am responsible. But I must own that I do not see occasion to
wish for any change." And then the subject was allowed to drop.

Among those of her relations who wondered much at the girl's fortune,
but allowed themselves to say but little, was