y what you think. If we
could trust him--if we could but trust him! I daresay you think me
very changeable and foolish; but now we are alone," said the poor
lady, "think what a comfort it would be if he only would change his
ways as he promised! Lucy is a great deal more use than I am, and
understands things; but still we are only two women," said the elder
sister. "If you think we could put any dependence upon him, Mr
Wentworth, I would never hesitate. He might live with us, and have his
little allowance." Miss Wodehouse paused, and raised her anxious face
to the Curate, pondering the particulars of the liberality she
intended. "He is not a boy," she went on. "I daresay now he must feel
the want of the little comforts he once was used to; and though he is
not like what he used to be, neither in his looks nor his manners,
people would be kind to him for our sakes. Oh, Mr Wentworth, don't you
think we might trust him?" said the anxious woman, looking in the
Curate's face.

All this time Mr Wentworth, with an impatience of her simplicity which
it was difficult to restrain, was reading the letter, in which he
perceived a very different intention from any divined by Miss Wodehouse.
The billet was disreputable enough, written in pencil, and without any
date.

"MARY,--I mean to come to my father's funeral," wrote Mr Wodehouse's
disowned son. "Things are changed now, as I said they would be. I and
a friend of mine have set everything straight with Waters, and I mean
to come in my own name, and take the place I have a right to. How it
is to be after this depends on how you behave; but things are changed
between you and me, as I told you they would be; and I expect you
won't do anything to make 'em worse by doing or saying what's
unpleasant. I add no more, because I hope you'll have sense to see
what I mean, and to act accordingly.--Your brother,

"THOMAS WODEHOUSE."

"You see he thinks I will reproach him," said Miss Wodehouse,
anxiously; perhaps it had just glanced across her own mind that
something more important still might have dictated language so
decided. "He has a great deal more feeling than you would suppose,
poor fellow! It is very touching in him to say, 'the place he has a
right to'--don't you think so, Mr Wentworth? Poor Tom! if we could but
trust him, and he would change his ways as he promised! Oh, Mr
Wentworth, don't you think I might speak of it to him to-morrow? If we
could--bury--everythin