wards superiority--"but seemed of an accommodating
habit." This expression was far from unfortunate, and it was owing to
the disposition so described that old Maisie, as soon as she was fully
aware that she had been the unintentional cause of strained relations in
the household, became very uncomfortable; and, much as she loved the
beautiful but headstrong creature that had taken such a fancy to her,
felt more than ever that the sooner she returned to her own proper
surroundings the better.

Gwen returned to her own quarters after a certain amount of
good-humoured fault-finding, having listened to and made light of many
expressions of contrition from the old lady that she should have
occasioned what Miss Lutwyche afterwards spoke of as just so much
uncalled-for hot water. Gwen's youth and high spirits, and her supreme
contempt for the petty animosities of the domestics, made it less easy
for her to understand the feelings of her old guest, and the rather
anomalous position in which she had placed her. She thought she had said
all she need about it when she warned Mrs. Picture not to be put out by
Mrs. Masham and Lutwyche's nonsense. Servants were always like that.
Bother Mrs. Masham and Lutwyche!

The latter, however, when assisting her young mistress to retire for the
night--an operation which takes two when a young lady of position is
cast for the leading part--was eloquent about the hot water, which she
said no doubt prevailed, but appeared to her entirely unwarranted. Her
account of the position redounded to her own credit. Hers had been the
part of a peace-maker. She had made the crooked straight, and the rough
places plain. The substratum of everybody else's character was also
excellent, but human weakness, to which all but the speaker were liable,
stepped in and distorted the best intentions. If only Mrs. Masham did
not give away to the sharpness of her tongue, a better heart did not
exist. Mr. Norbury might frequently avoid misunderstandings if an acute
sense of duty and an almost startling integrity of motive were the only
things wanted to procure peace with honour in a disturbed household. But
that was where it was. You must have Authority, and a vacillating
disposition did not contribute to its exercise. In Mr. Norbury a fatal
indecision in action and a too great sensitiveness of moral fibre
paralysed latent energies of a high order which might otherwise have
made him a leader among men. As for the girls, th