ere been one there,
might have seen this; but, while they remained together down stairs,
there occurred among them nothing else to mark that all was not well
with them.

Nor would the brother have spoken a word during the evening on the
subject that was so near to all their hearts had not Florence led the
way. When they were at tea, and when Cecilia had already made up her
mind that there was to be no further discussion that night, Florence
suddenly broke forth.

"Theodore," she said, "I have been thinking much about it, and I believe
I had better go home, to Stratton, to-morrow."

"Oh, no," said Cecilia, eagerly.

"I believe it will be better that I should," continued Florence. "I
suppose it is very weak in me to own it; but I am unhappy, and, like the
wounded bird, I feel that it will be well that I should hide myself."

Cecilia was at her feet in a moment. "Dearest Flo," she said, "is not
this your home as well as Stratton?"

"When I am able to be happy, it is. Those who have light hearts may have
more homes than one, but it is not so with those whose hearts are heavy.
I think it will be best for me to go."

"You shall do exactly as you please," said her brother. "In such a
matter I will not try to persuade you. I only wish that we could tend to
comfort you."

"You do comfort me. If I know that you think I am doing right, that will
comfort me more than anything. Absolute and immediate comfort is not to
be had when one is sorrowful."

"No, indeed," said her brother. "Sorrow should not be killed too
quickly. I always think that those who are impervious to grief most be
impervious also to happiness. If you have feelings capable of the one,
you must have them capable also of the other."

"You should, wait, at any rate, till you get an answer from Mrs.
Clavering," said Cecilia.

"I do not know that she has any answer to send to me."

"Oh yes, she must answer you, if you will think of it. If she accepts
what you have said--"

"She can not but accept it."

"Then she must reply to you. There is something which you have asked her
to send to you; and I think you should wait, at any rate, till it
reaches you here. Mind, I do not think her answer will be of that
nature, but it is clear that you should wait for it, whatever it may
be." Then Florence, with the concurrence of her brother's opinion,
consented to remain in London for a few days, expecting the answer which
would be sent by Mrs. Clavering; and after