held a sitting to consider what it was best to do with
her. Caroline proposed to take her to Beckley without delay. Harriet was
of opinion that the least they could do was to write to her relatives
and make them instantly aware of her condition.

But the Countess said 'No,' to both. Her argument was, that Juliana
being independent, they were by no means bound to 'bundle' her, in her
state, back to a place where she had been so shamefully maltreated: that
here she would live, while there she would certainly die: that absence
of excitement was her medicine, and that here she had it. Mrs. Andrew,
feeling herself responsible as the young lady's hostess, did not
acquiesce in the Countess's views till she had consulted Juliana;
and then apologies for giving trouble were breathed on the one hand;
sympathy, condolences, and professions of esteem, on the other. Juliana
said, she was but slightly ill, would soon recover. Entreated not to
leave them before she was thoroughly re-established, and to consent
to be looked on as one of the family, she sighed, and said it was the
utmost she could hope. Of course the ladies took this compliment to
themselves, but Evan began to wax in importance. The Countess thought it
nearly time to acknowledge him, and supported the idea by a citation of
the doctrine, that to forgive is Christian. It happened, however,
that Harriet, who had less art and more will than her sisters, was
inflexible. She, living in a society but a few steps above Tailordom,
however magnificent in expenditure and resources, abhorred it solemnly.
From motives of prudence, as well as personal disgust, she continued
firm in declining to receive her brother. She would not relent when the
Countess pointed out a dim, a dazzling prospect, growing out of Evan's
proximity to the heiress of Beckley Court; she was not to be moved when
Caroline suggested that the specific for the frail invalid was Evan's
presence. As to this, Juliana was sufficiently open, though, as she
conceived, her art was extreme.

'Do you know why I stay to vex and trouble you?' she asked Caroline.
'Well, then, it is that I may see your brother united to you all: and
then I shall go, happy.'

The pretext served also to make him the subject of many conversations.
Twice a week a bunch of the best flowers that could be got were sorted
and arranged by her, and sent namelessly to brighten Evan's chamber.

'I may do such a thing as this, you know, without incurring