enough to have the
expenses of the season taken off him: and even get all the more pleasure
out of it when he has his living free."

"That's not a very elevated view to take of the transaction, John."

"My dear aunt, I did not think you expected anything very elevated from
the Comptons. They are not the sort of family from which one
expects----"

"And yet it is the family that my Elinor belongs to: she is a Compton."

"I did not think of that," said John, a little disconcerted. Then he
added, "There is no very elevated standard in such matters. Want of
money has no law: and of course there are better things involved, for he
might be very glad that Elinor should have her mother to go out with
her, to stand by when--a man might have other engagements."

Mrs. Dennistoun looked at him closely and shook her head. She was not
very much reassured by this view of the case. "At all events I shall try
it," she said.

Quite early in the year, when she was expecting no such pleasure, she
was rewarded for her patience by another flying visit from her child,
who this time telegraphed to say she was coming, so that her mother
could go and meet her at the station, and thus lose no moment of her
visit. Elinor, however, was not in good spirits on this occasion, nor
was she in good looks. She told her mother hurriedly that Phil had come
up upon business; that he was very much engaged with the new company,
getting far more into it than satisfied her. "I am terrified that
another catastrophe may come, and that he might share the blame if
things were to go wrong"--which was by no means a good preface for the
mission with which it afterwards appeared Elinor herself was charged.

"Phil told me to say to you, mamma, that if you were not satisfied with
any of your investments, he could help you to a good six or seven per
cent.----"

She said this with her head turned away, gazing out of the window,
contemplating the wintry aspect of the combe with a countenance as
cloudy and as little cheerful as itself.

There was an outcry on Mrs. Dennistoun's lips, but fortunately her
sympathy with her child was so strong that she felt Elinor's sentiments
almost more forcibly than her own, and she managed to answer in a quiet,
untroubled voice.

"Philip is very kind, my dear: but you know my investments are all
settled for me and I have no will of my own. I get less interest, but
then I have less responsibility. Don't you know I belong to the tim