me from school now over a fortnight, and, except on
the night of the dinner-party, I haven't seen you once.'

'I was coming over to see you last week, dear; but, to tell you the
truth, mamma prevented me. I cannot think why, but somehow she does not
seem to care that I should go to Dungory Castle. But for the matter of
that, why did you not come to see me? I've been expecting you every
day.'

'I couldn't come either. My sisters advised me--I mean, insisted on my
stopping at home.'

'And why?'

'I really can't say,' replied Cecilia.

And now Alice knew that the Ladies Cullen hated Mrs. Barton for her
intimacy with Lord Dungory. She longed to talk the matter out, but dared
not; while Cecilia regretted she had spoken; for, with the quickness of
the deformed, she knew that Alice had divined the truth of the family
feud.

The sun fell like lead upon the short grass of the deer-park and the
frizzled heads of the hawthorns. On the right the green masses of the
oakwood shut in the view, and the stately red deer, lolling their high
necks, marched away through the hillocks, as if offended at their
solitude being disturbed. One poor crippled hind walked with a wretched
sidling movement, and Alice hoped Cecilia would not notice it, lest it
should remind her of her own misfortune.

'I am sure,' she said, 'we never knew finer weather than this in
England. I don't think there could be finer weather, and still they say
the tenants are worse off than ever; that no rent at all, at least
nothing above Griffith's valuation, will be paid.'

'Do they speak much of Griffith's valuation at Dungory Castle?'

'Oh! they never cease, and--and--I don't know whether I ought to say,
but it won't matter with you, I suppose?--mind, you must not breathe a
word of this at Brookfield--the fact is my sisters' school--you know
they have a school, and go in for trying to convert the people--well,
this has got papa into a great deal of trouble. The Bishop has sent down
another priest--I think they call it a mission--and we are going to be
preached against, and papa received a threatening letter this morning.
He is going, I believe, to apply for police.'

'And is this on account of the proselytizing?'

'Oh! no, not entirely; he has refused to give his tenants Griffith's
valuation; but it makes one very unpopular to be denounced by the
priest. I assure you, papa is very angry. He told Sarah and Jane this
morning at breakfast that he'd have no more