he was kindness itself!'

'And how did Master Mark look at finding I could dispense with his
assistance?'

'I think he is very glad.'

Mr. Egremont laughed. 'You are a simple woman, Edda! The pose of
virtuous hero was to have been full compensation for all that it might
cost him! And no doubt he looks for the reward of virtue likewise.'

Wherewith he looked full at Ursula, who, to her extreme vexation, felt
herself blushing up to the ears. She fidgeted on her chair, and began
a most untrue 'I'm sure--' for, indeed, the poor girl was sure of
nothing, but that her father's manner was most uncomfortable to her.
His laugh choked whatever she might have said, which perhaps was well,
and her mother's cheeks glowed as much as hers did.

'Did the Canoness--Jane, I mean--come up?' Mr. Egremont went on.

'Mrs. Egremont? No; she sent word that she is coming after luncheon.'

'Hm! Then I shall ride out and leave you to her majesty. Now look
you, Alice, you are to be very careful with William's wife. She is a
Condamine, you know, and thinks no end of herself, and your position
among the women-folk of the county depends more on how she takes you up
than anything else. But that doesn't mean that you are to let her give
herself airs and domineer over you. Remember you are the elder
brother's wife--Mrs. Egremont of Bridgefield Egremont--and she is
nothing but a parson's wife, and I won't have her meddling in my house.
Only don't you be absurd and offend her, for she can do more for or
against you in society than any one else--more's the pity!'

'Oh! won't you stay and help me receive her?' exclaimed the poor lady,
utterly confused by these contrary directions.

'Not I! I can't abide the woman! nor she me!' He added, after a
moment, 'You will do better without me.'

So he went out for his ride, and Ursula asked, 'Oh, mother! what will
you do?'

'The best I can, my dear. They are good people, and are sure to be
kinder than I deserve.'

Nuttie was learning that her mother would never so much as hear, far
less answer, a remark on her husband. It was beginning to make a sore
in the young heart that a barrier was thus rising, where there once had
been as perfect oneness and confidence as could exist between two
natures so dissimilar, though hitherto the unlikeness had never made
itself felt.

Mrs. Egremont turned the conversation to the establishing themselves in
the pavilion, whither she proceeded to import some