as though she were a daughter. The Rector
had made her pretty presents, had kissed her, and called her his child.
With Fanny she had formed a friendship which was to endure for ever, let
destiny separate them how it might. Dear Fanny! She had had a wonderful
interview respecting Fanny on this very day, and was at this moment
disquieting her mind because she could not tell her friend what had
happened without a breach of confidence! She had learned a great deal at
Clavering, though in most matters of learning she was a better
instructed woman than they were whom she had met. In general knowledge
and in intellect she was Fanny's superior, though Fanny Clavering was no
fool; but Florence, when she came thither, had lacked something which
living in such a house had given to her; or, I should rather say,
something had been given to her of which she would greatly feel the
want, if it could be again taken from her. Her mother was as excellent a
woman as had ever sent forth a family of daughters into the world, and I
do not know that any one ever objected to her as being ignorant, or
specially vulgar; but the house in Stratton was not like Clavering
Rectory in the little ways of living, and this Florence Burton had been
clever enough to understand. She knew that a sojourn under such a roof;
with such a woman as Mrs. Clavering, must make her fitter to be Harry's
wife; and, therefore, when they pressed her to come again in the Autumn,
she said that she thought she would. She could understand, too, that
Harry was different in many things from the men who had married her
sisters, and she rejoiced that it was so. Poor Florence! Had he been
more like them it might have been safer for her.

But we must return for a moment to the wonderful interview which has
been mentioned. Florence, during her sojourn at Clavering, had become
intimate with Mr. Saul, as well as with Fanny. She had given herself for
the time heartily to the schools, and matters had so far progressed with
her that Mr. Saul had on one occasion scolded her soundly. "It's a great
sign that he thinks well of you," Fanny had said. "It was the only sign
he ever gave me, before he spoke to me in that sad strain." On the
afternoon of this, her last day at Clavering, she had gone over to
Cumberly Green with Fanny, to say farewell to the children, and walked
back by herself; as Fanny had not finished her work. When she was still
about half a mile from the Rectory, she met Mr. Saul