rely dropped her intercourse with Mr. Parsons, though
seldom meeting; and he was a relic of the past, one of the very few who
still called her by her Christian name, and regarded her more as the
clergyman's daughter of St. Wulstan's than as lady of the Holt. Mrs.
Parsons was a thorough clergyman's wife, as active as himself, and much
loved and esteemed by Honora, with whom, in their few meetings, she had
'got on' to admiration.

There they were, looking after luggage, and paying cabs so heedfully as
not to remark their hostess standing on the stairs; and she had time to
survey them with the affectionate curiosity of meeting after long
absence, and with pleasure in remarking that there was little change.
Perhaps they were rather more gray, and had grown more alike by force of
living and thinking together; but they both looked equally alert and
cheerful, and as if fifty and fifty-five were the very prime of years for
substantial work.

Their first glances at her were full of the same anxiety for her health
and strength, as they heartily shook hands, and accompanied her into the
drawing-room, she explaining that Mr. Parsons was to have the study all
to himself, and never be disturbed there; then inquiring after the three
children, two daughters, who were married, and a son lately ordained.

'I thought you would have brought William to see about the curacy,' she
said.

'He is not strong enough,' said his mother. 'He wished it, but he is
better where he is; he could not bear the work here.'

'No; I told him the utmost I should allow would be an exchange now and
then when my curates were overdone,' said Mr. Parsons.

'And so you are quite deserted,' said Honor, feeling the more drawn
towards her friends.

'Starting afresh, with a sort of honeymoon, as I tell Anne,' replied Mr.
Parsons; and such a bright look passed between them, as though they were
quite sufficient for each other, that Honor felt there was no parallel
between their case and her own.

'Ah! you have not lost your children yet,' said Mrs. Parsons.

'They are not with me,' said Honor, quickly. 'Lucy is with her cousins,
and Owen--I don't exactly know how he means to dispose of himself this
vacation; but we were all to meet here.' Guessing, perhaps, that Mr.
Parsons saw into her dissatisfaction, she then assumed their defence.
'There is to be a grand affair at Castle Blanch, a celebration of young
Charles Charteris's marriage, and Owen and Lucy will