or fear she should have left town.'

Cilla's face did not conceal her annoyance, but not understanding her in
the least, he continued, 'I'm sure no one could speak more kindly or
considerately than she did. Her eyes filled with tears, and she must be
heartily fond of you at the bottom, though maybe rather injudicious and
strict; but after what I told her, you need have no fears.'

'Did you ever know me have any?'

'Ah well! you don't like the word; but at any rate she thinks you behaved
with great spirit and discretion under the circumstances, and quite
overlooks any little imprudence. She hopes to see you the day after
to-morrow, and will write and tell you so.'

Perhaps no intentional slander ever gave the object greater annoyance
than Cilly experienced on learning that the good curate had, in the
innocence of his heart, represented her as in a state of proper feeling,
and interceded for her; and it was all the worse because it was
impossible to her to damp his kind satisfaction, otherwise than by a
brief 'Thank you,' the tone of which he did not comprehend.

'Was she alone?' she asked.

'Didn't I tell you the young lady was with her, and the brother?'

'Robert Fulmort!' and Cilla's heart sank at finding that it could not
have been he who had been with Owen.

'Ay, the young fellow that slept at my house. He has taken a curacy at
St. Wulstan's.'

'Did he tell you so?' with an ill-concealed start of consternation.

'Not he; lads have strange manners. I should have thought after the
terms we were upon here, he need not have been quite so much absorbed in
his book as never to speak!'

'He has plenty in him instead of manners,' said Lucilla; 'but I'll take
him in hand for it.'

Though Lucilla's instinct of defence had spoken up for Robert, she felt
hurt at his treatment of her old friend, and could only excuse it by a
strong fit of conscious moodiness. His taking the curacy was only
explicable, she thought, as a mode of showing his displeasure with
herself, since he could not ask her to marry into Whittingtonia; but
'That must be all nonsense,' thought she; 'I will soon have him down off
his high horse, and Mr. Parsons will never keep him to his
engagement--silly fellow to have made it--or if he does, I shall only
have the longer to plague him. It will do him good. Let me see! he will
come down to-morrow with Honora's note. I'll put on my lilac muslin with
the innocent little frill, and do my hair und