express even to her son, though she muttered it to her
daughter-in-law, that Arthur would be disgraced for ever were he
to marry the widow of such a man as Ferdinand Lopez. But when this
question of receiving Emily back into family favour was mooted in
the Longbarns Parliament no one alluded to the possibility of such
a marriage. There was the fact that she whom they had all loved had
been freed by a great tragedy from the husband whom they had all
condemned,--and also the knowledge that the poor victim had suffered
greatly during the period of her married life. Mrs. Fletcher had
frowned, and shaken her head, and made a little speech about the
duties of women, and the necessarily fatal consequences when those
duties are neglected. There were present there, with the old lady,
John Fletcher and his wife, Sir Alured and Lady Wharton, and Mary
Wharton. Arthur was not in the county, nor could the discussion have
been held in his presence. "I can only say," said John, getting up
and looking away from his mother, "that she shall always find a home
at Longbarns when she chooses to come here, and I hope Sir Alured
will say the same as to Wharton Hall." After all, John Fletcher was
king in these parts, and Mrs. Fletcher, with many noddings and some
sobbing, had to give way to King John. The end of all this was that
Mary Wharton wrote her letters. In that to Mr. Wharton she asked
whether it would not be better that her cousin should change the
scene and come at once into the country. Let her come and stay a
month at Wharton, and then go on to Longbarns. She might be sure that
there would be no company in either house. In June the Fletchers
would go up to town for a week, and then Emily might return to
Wharton Hall. It was a long letter, and Mary gave many reasons why
the poor sufferer would be better in the country than in town. The
letter to Emily herself was shorter but full of affection. "Do, do,
do come. You know how we all love you. Let it be as it used to be.
You always liked the country. I will devote myself to try and comfort
you." But Emily could not as yet submit to receive devotion even from
her cousin Mary. Through it all, and under it all,--though she would
ever defend her husband because he was dead,--she knew that she
had disgraced the Whartons and brought a load of sorrow upon the
Fletchers, and she was too proud to be forgiven so quickly.

Then she received another tender of affection from a quarter whence
she c