lia's voice which said, "She is rather vain,
certainly, poor thing!"

"She is just as stuck-up as a peacock!" replied Hatty: "and 'tis all
from living with Grandmamma at Carlisle--she fancies herself ever so
much better than we are, just because she learned French and dancing."

"Well, if I had a sister, I would not say things of that sort about
her," said Ephraim, bluntly. "Hatty, you ought to be ashamed."

"Thank you, Mr Hebblethwaite, I don't feel so at all," answered
laughing Hatty.

"And she really has no true polish--only a little outside varnish," said
Cecilia. "If she were to be introduced at an assembly in Town, she
would be set down directly as a little country girl who did not know
anything. It is a pity she cannot see herself better."

"There are some woods that don't take polish nearly so well as others,"
said Ephraim, in a rather curious tone. I felt hurt; was he turning
against me too?

"So there are," said Cecilia. "I see, Mr Hebblethwaite, you understand
the matter."

"Pardon me, Miss Osborne," was Ephraim's dry answer. "I am one of those
that do not polish well. Compliments are wasted on me--particularly
when the shaft is pointed with poison for my friends. And as to seeing
one's self better--I wish, Madam, we could all do that."

As Ephraim walked away, which he did at once, I am sure he caught sight
of me. His eyes gave a little flash, and the blood mounted in his
cheek, but he kept on his way to the other end of the room, where Fanny
and Amelia sat talking together. I slipped out of the door as soon as I
could.

That wicked, deceitful Cecilia! How many times had she told me that I
was a sweet little creature--that my life at Carlisle had given me such
a polish that I should not disgrace the Princess's drawing-room! [Note
3.] And now--! I went into my garret, and told my book about it, and
if I must confess the truth, I am afraid I cried a little. But my eyes
do not show tears, like Fanny's, for ever so long after, and when I had
bathed them and become a little calmer, I went down again into the
parlour. I found my Aunt Kezia there now, and I was glad, for I knew
that both Cecilia and Hatty would be on their best behaviour in her
presence. Ephraim was talking with Fanny, as he generally does, and
there was that "hawid" creature Mr Parmenter, with his drawl and his
eyeglass and all the rest of it.

"Indeed, it is very trying!" he was saying, as I came in; but he never
sou