The Two Sides of the Shield

he moment that it was written, but she did when she posted it; and the next time she could get her young friend alone,

despised pluming herself on any connection with a marquess, she did grea

of criticisms do you mean? I su

never takes in society papers. I believe he does criticisms on plays and

her mother to avail herself of escort thus obtained. Nor was she sure that the word all was accurately the fact; but it w

course,' s

ear mother

ientific articles in the first-class reviews and magazines, and

t is going on, but I hardly ever can see one. Mary won't take in anything about Church Bel

anything! We didn't take in society papers, because father does not care for gossip or grandees. He has other pursuits. I can show you some of de

ou read

icult. Mother was so v

nstance, with a sigh; 'but ho

aid Dolores. 'They all knew her, and we

s to have an introduct

written anything

Constance, modestly. 'It is a grea

you my secret, you know, s

like the 'Woman in White.' There was only too much time for the romance; for weeks passed and there was no answer from Mr. Flinders. It was possible that he might have broken off his connection with the paper, only then the letter would probably have been returned; and the other alternative was less agreeable, that it was not worth his while to write to his niece. While as to Maude Sefton, nothing was heard of her. Were her letters intercepted? And so the winter side of autumn set in. Hal was gone to Oxford, and there had been time for letters to come from Mr. Mohun, posted from Auckland, New Zealand, where he had made a halt with his sister, Mrs. Harry May, otherwise Aunt Phyllis. Dolores was very much pleased to receive her letter, and to have it all to herself; but, after all, she was somewha

and never communicated a word about the miscroscopic monsters her father had described, but she dre

rice. She had been his correspondent in school and college days, and being a person never easily rebuffed, she had kept up more intercourse with him and his wife than any others of the family had done, and he had preserved the habit of writing to her much m

wnie indeed! How did you come? Y

ave disturbed the lessons,' said Aunt Jane, in the interval

thea has actually sent me a primrose-just like an English one-that they

Phyllis, so, having enjoyed it with Ada, I br

efore dinner. Shall we read it to the general p

instructive. Quite as much

door garments, was installed by the fire, and unfolded a whole volume

lege, only a great deal fuller, and with the scientific terms untranslated-indeed, Aunt Jane had now and then to stop and explain, since she had always kept up with the course of modern discovery. There was also much more about his shipmates, with one or two of whom Mr. Mohun had evidently made great friends. He told his sister a great

conclusion, wr

art good. I never did him justice before; but I see his good sense and superiority called into play out her

Lady Merrifield; but she glanced

heir education, and her husband talks of throwing up his appointment before long, as he is anxious to go home while his father lives. I wish I had gone to Stoneborough before coming out here, now that I see what a gratification it would have been if I could have brought a fresh report of old Dr. May. (Somehow, I think there has been a numbness or obtuseness about me all these last two years which hindered me from perceiving or doing much that I now regret, since either the change or the wholesome atmosphere of this house has wakened me as it were. Among thes

olores both disliked the conclusion to which her father had come, and still more that her aunt and cousins should hear it, though, after all, it was only Gillian and M

alone together later in the afternoon. It filled her eyes with tears.

n he comes home. The numbness he talks of was half of it Mary's dis

out to Phyllis. I am not in the leas

as much effect on her as it seems to have had

. We don't often have collisions-unless Wi

u send that b

h for himself and the others. He needs licking into shape as only boys can do to o

does h

places are found-those are the sort of things; putting that very life-like wild cat chauffe-pied with glaring eyes in Dolly's bed. I believe he does such things to all, but his sisters would let him torture them rather than complain, whereas Dolores does her

ay he is i

d there is active dislike making Dolores his favourite victim; and then Val and Fergu

e principle of 't

I scold, or I punish, and that I think maintains the principle, without danger to truth or forbearance. At least, I hope it does. I am pretty sure that if I punished Wilfred for every teasing trick I kn

upset. Lily, I revere you! I never thought you

one's own children may not work for other people's. And I

cat!' said Aunt Jane, with a l

. I am too unlike Mary for her

perverseness to keep on so long. Tell me, did she t

s the only thing the poor child seem much to care ab

who have thrown yourself into your daughters and kept them one with you. You

cket is one of the most excellent people in the world, a little tire

ame? My dear, I saw her goings on at the G.F.S. affair-If

ys had more eyes to your

, I can't help it, but my notion is that the sweet Constance-whatever her sister may b

genial to a grave, reserved, intellectua

an, and the notice of a grown-up young lady is so fl

dship-the only indulgence she has seemed to wish for; and I am afraid checking it wou

, Lily; and you have no ha

ive her, and it was the turn of Dolores to go out, so that she shared the refection instead of waiting for gouter. In the midst the Miss Hackets were announced, and there were exc

in in her sister's room, she found an opportunity of sayi

sociates. Oh! yes, I know a peacock or a lynx is nothing to you, but how was it possible? Why,

on clergyman whose silver cream-jug, full of cream too, was abstracted by th

n curates have silver

ilk. Well, to descend to particulars. It was done with a meaning glance, as Dolor

n it myself I should have no doubts. Oh! if Jasper were but here! And yet it

nce of secrecy as bad manners. You will

not there. On being called, she sent a voice d

mily bad manners and disrespect were never passed over, Sir Jasper having made his wife very particular in that respect; and as soon as she came home in the

ou not go with your

It was so cold,' said

I had not met the others in the paddock, and picked up Valetta, t

ad fallen upon her; Wilfred had called her a dog in the manger, and Gillian herself had not gai

eak to me instead of shouting over the balusters in that unmannerly way; without so much as takin

ht, but did not say, Dolores. She only stood looking dogged, and not

gracious. And one thing more, my dear, I can have no passing of private notes between you and Constance Hacket. You see a good deal of eac

than to those glances of Aunt Jane, which had been always held in the Mohun family to be a little too discerning and ubiquitous to be always relied on; and it was a satisfactory recollection that at the farewell moment when Miss Jane professed t