write to you, mamma." Then Priscilla read her aunt's letter, which
was as follows:--

The Close, Exeter, July 31, 186--.

DEAR SISTER STANBURY,

I am informed that the lady who is living with you because
she could not continue to live under the same roof with
her lawful husband, has received a visit at your house
from a gentleman who was named as her lover before she
left her own. I am given to understand that it was because
of this gentleman's visits to her in London, and because
she would not give up seeing him, that her husband would
not live with her any longer.

"But the man has never been here at all," said Mrs. Stanbury, in
dismay.

"Of course he has not been here. But let me go on."

I have got nothing to do with your visitors, [continued
the letter] and I should not interfere but for the credit
of the family. There ought to be somebody to explain to
you that much of the abominable disgrace of the whole
proceeding will rest upon you, if you permit such goings
on in your house. I suppose it is your house. At any rate
you are regarded as the mistress of the establishment, and
it is for you to tell the lady that she must go elsewhere.
I do hope that you have done so, or at least that you
will do so now. It is intolerable that the widow of my
brother,--a clergyman,--should harbour a lady who is
separated from her husband and who receives visits from
a gentleman who is reputed to be her lover. I wonder
much that your eldest daughter should countenance such a
proceeding.

Yours truly,

JEMIMA STANBURY.

Mrs. Stanbury, when the letter had been read to her, held up both her
hands in despair. "Dear, dear," she exclaimed. "Oh, dear!"

"She had such pleasure in writing it," said Priscilla, "that one
ought hardly to begrudge it her." The blackest spot in the character
of Priscilla Stanbury was her hatred for her aunt in Exeter. She knew
that her aunt had high qualities, and yet she hated her aunt. She was
well aware that her aunt was regarded as a shining light by very many
good people in the county, and yet she hated her aunt. She could not
but acknowledge that her aunt had been generous to her brother, and
was now very generous to her sister, and yet she hated her aunt. It
was now a triumph to her that her aunt had fallen into so terrible
a quagmire, and she was by no means disposed to let the sinning old
woman easil