time to place another person in Skelmersdale while Frank
was unprovided for; but, of course," said Miss Leonora, sitting down
suddenly, "nobody who knows me could suppose for a minute that I would
let my feelings stand in the way of my public duty. Still it is very
awkward just at this moment when Frank, on the whole, has been behaving
very properly, and one can't help so far approving of him--"

"I am much obliged to you, aunt Leonora," said the Curate.

"Oh, you are there, Frank," said his sensible aunt; and strong-minded
though she was, a slight shade of additional colour appeared for a
moment on Miss Leonora's face. She paused a little, evidently diverted
from the line of discourse which she had contemplated, and wavered like
a vessel disturbed in its course. "The fact is, I have just had a letter
announcing Mr Shirley's death," she continued, facing round towards her
nephew, and setting off abruptly, in face of all consequences, on the
new tack.

"I am very sorry," said Frank Wentworth; "though I have an old grudge
at him on account of his long sermons; but as you have expected it for
a year or two, I can't imagine your grief to be overwhelming," said
the Curate, with a touch of natural impertinence to be expected under
the circumstances. Skelmersdale had been so long thought interesting
to him, that now, when it was not in the least interesting, he got
impatient of the name.

"I quite agree with you, Frank," said Miss Wentworth. Aunt Cecilia had
not been able for a long time to agree with anybody. She had been, on
the contrary, shaking her head and shedding a few gentle tears over
Gerald's silent submission and Louisa's noisy lamentations. Everything
was somehow going wrong; and she who had no power to mend, at least
could not assent, and broke through her old use and wont to shake her
head, which was a thing very alarming to the family. The entire party
was moved by a sensation of pleasure to hear Miss Cecilia say, "I
quite agree with you, Frank."

"You are looking better this morning, my dear aunt," said Gerald. They
had a great respect for each other these two; but when Miss Cecilia
turned to hear what her elder nephew was saying, her face lost the
momentary look of approval it had worn, and she again, though very
softly, almost imperceptibly, began to shake her head.

"We were not asking for your sympathy," said Miss Leonora, sharply.
"Don't talk like a saucy boy. We were talking of our own
embarrassme