tranquillity and ease at the end of their long service. To do
them justice, they had been glad to receive their old mistress and her
daughter, welcoming them as visitors with a sense of hospitality, and
declaring that they did not mind the trouble, notwithstanding that
Joseph's health was bad, and late dinners had always been an affliction
to his wife.

"I hope," Mrs. Warrender said, "that the two little girls will soon make
their own welcome, as babies have a way of doing--and make everybody
certain that they are much sweeter than any one little boy."

This was how Theo's mother took the sting out of the rector's speech,
which was not intended to have any sting, and was only a stray gleam of
insight out of a confused realisation of the state of affairs; but it
was so true that it was difficult to believe it was that, and no more.
The Wilberforces had come to inquire, not only for Lady Markland and her
babies, but into many other things, could they have found the opportunity.
But Chatty's presence stopped even Mrs. Wilberforce's mouth. And when
they went in to inspect all the improvements and the new decorations and
furniture, Chatty came after them, and followed everywhere, which seemed
very strange to the rector's wife. Did she mean to prevent them from
talking? Was that her purpose? She took little part in the conversation.
She was more silent than she had ever been, though she had never been
given to much talk; and yet she came with them wherever they went, putting
an effectual stop to the questions that quivered on the very edge of
Mrs. Wilberforce's lips. Nor had the rector the sense, which he might
so easily have had, to engage her in talk, to occupy her attention, and
leave his wife free to speak. Anybody but a man would have had the sense
to have done so, but a man is an unteachable creature, and never will
divine the things that are required of him which cannot be told him in
plain words. Accordingly, the whole party strolled from one room to
another, commenting upon the new arrangements without a possibility of
any enlightenment as to the real state of affairs. Mrs. Wilberforce was
very indignant with her husband as they left,--an indignation that
seemed very uncalled for to this injured man.

"What you could have done? Why, you could have talked to Chatty. You
could have interested her on some subject or another, about where they
were abroad, or about the parish, or---- Dear me, there are always
plenty of