ed to "down-stairs." "She've been prying
and spying about like they all do----" Mrs. Dennistoun had retreated
within the shelter of her room to escape the end of this sentence, which
still she heard, with the usual quickness of our faculties in such
cases. She swallowed her simple breakfast with what appetite she might,
and her stout spirit for the moment broke down before this insult which
was ridiculous, she said to herself, from a saucy servant-man. What did
it matter to her what Johnson did or said? But it was like the lamp
burning in the sunshine: it gave a moral shock more sharp than many a
thing of much more importance would have been capable of doing, and she
had not been able to get over it all day.

It may be supposed, therefore, that it was an unfortunate moment for
Phil Compton's visit. Mrs. Dennistoun had scarcely seen them that day,
and she was sitting by herself, somewhat sick at heart, wondering if
anything would break the routine into which their life was falling; or
if this was what Elinor must address herself to as its usual tenor. It
would be better in the country, she said to herself. It was only in the
bustle of the season, when everybody of his kind was congregated in
town, that it would be like this. In their rounds of visits, or when the
whole day was occupied with sport, such nocturnal sittings would be
impossible--and she comforted herself by thinking that they would not be
consistent with any serious business in the city such as Elinor feared.
The one danger must push away the other. He could not gamble at night in
that way, and gamble in the other among the stockbrokers. They were both
ruinous, no doubt, but they could not both be carried on at the same
time--or so, at least, this innocent woman thought. There was enough to
be anxious and alarmed about without taking two impossible dangers into
her mind together.

And just then Phil knocked at her door. He came in smiling and gracious,
and with that look of high breeding and _savoir faire_ which had
conciliated her before and which she felt the influence of now, although
she was aware how many drawbacks there were, and knew that the respect
which her son-in-law showed was far from genuine. "I never see you to
have a chat," he said; "I thought I would take the opportunity to-day,
when Elinor was out. I want you to tell me how you think she is."

"I think she is wonderfully well," said Mrs. Dennistoun.

"_Wonderfully_ well--you mean conside