eemed to have
taken such a firm hold of the truth, and to have such a freshness in
her enjoyment of her Bible, that it did me good to hear her talk. Now
and then, too, I enjoyed a few words with Mr. Stanton, but not very
often. He and Hugh were much up in town, and he was very busy writing
some scientific book in which Hugh was helping. Once Hugh had asked me
to go in and play on my violin to them in the dusk before dinner; but
Mrs. Forsyth had told me afterwards she would rather I did not do it
again, and I took care not to repeat it. I was left very much to
myself while the preparations for the tableaux were going on, and when
the night came I found that Mrs. Forsyth had no objection to my having
a schoolroom tea with Violet and Miss Graham, and so keeping out of the
way of it all. Violet was allowed in to see them, but Miss Graham did
not care to go, and she and I spent a very pleasant evening together.
Miss Willoughby and her brother left a few days after; but up to the
last day she was unsparing in her comments and gibes on everything
serious. She was ridiculing me on the morning of the day she left,
when we were gathered round the drawing-room fire just before luncheon.
I could not well make my escape, so bore it as quietly as I could; but
to my surprise Kenneth turned upon her. 'Now look here, Florence,' he
said, 'you have had it all your own way since Goody made you lose your
bet; don't you think you can part from her in peace? She has stood
your fire well. I like to see fair play, and I think you have had your
innings. Upon my word, I give her a good dose on occasions, just to
keep her from getting too uppish and trying to ride it with a high hand
over us; but you beat me altogether!'

Miss Willoughby laughed a little scornfully, but she took the hint, and
when she said good-bye her better nature overcame her.

'Well, we will part as friends, Miss Thorn. Your face is the best part
of you; your views are odious, but no doubt you mean well. I bear no
malice; do you?'

'No,' I said, looking up at her gravely; 'but I do wish you understood
my motives better.'

She laughed and turned away, and so we parted.

I found everything easier after her departure.

One evening we were just going in to dinner, when one of the servants
came up to me. 'If you please, miss, a message has come from the
village that Jim Carter is ill, and wants to see you at once.'

I knew the boy had been poorly, for two days