ded as a failure. On their
way home Mrs. Carbuncle declared that Minnie Talbot had done her very
best with such a part as Margaret, but that the character afforded
no scope for sympathy. "A noble jilt, my dears," said Mrs. Carbuncle
eloquently, "is a contradiction in terms. There can be no such thing.
A woman, when she has once said the word, is bound to stick to it.
The delicacy of the female character should not admit of hesitation
between two men. The idea is quite revolting."

"But may not one have an idea of no man at all?"--asked Lucinda.
"Must that be revolting also?"

"Of course a young woman may entertain such an idea; though for my
part I look upon it as unnatural. But when she has once given herself
there can be no taking back without the loss of that aroma which
should be the apple of a young woman's eye."

"If she finds that she has made a mistake--?" said Lucinda fiercely.
"Why shouldn't a young woman make a mistake as well as an old woman?
Her aroma won't prevent her from having been wrong and finding it
out."

"My dear, such mistakes, as you call them, always arise from
fantastic notions. Look at this piece. Why does the lady jilt her
lover? Not because she doesn't like him. She's just as fond of him as
ever."

"He's a stupid sort of a fellow, and I think she was quite right,"
said Lizzie. "I'd never marry a man merely because I said I would. If
I found I didn't like him, I'd leave him at the altar. If I found I
didn't like him, I'd leave him even after the altar. I'd leave him
any time I found I didn't like him. It's all very well to talk of
aroma, but to live with a man you don't like--is the devil!"

"My dear, those whom God has joined together shouldn't be
separated,--for any mere likings or dislikings." This Mrs. Carbuncle
said in a high tone of moral feeling, just as the carriage stopped
at the door in Hertford Street. They at once perceived that the
hall-door was open, and Mrs. Carbuncle, as she crossed the pavement,
saw that there were two policemen in the hall. The footman had
been with them to the theatre, but the cook and housemaid, and Mrs.
Carbuncle's own maid, were with the policemen in the passage. She
gave a little scream, and then Lizzie, who had followed her, seized
her by the arm. She turned round and saw by the gas-light that
Lizzie's face was white as a sheet, and that all the lines of her
countenance were rigid and almost distorted. "Then she does know all
about it!" said M