nder-tone.

'How glad your little orphans will be! How many have you?'

'There are five.'

Theodora saw she hated the subject, but thought it good for her, and
went on to tell her of a case at Whitford, cramming the subject into
her ear at first against the stomach of her sense, but it could not but
exact attention, a widow sinking in a decline after sorrows which, by
comparison, made all young lady troubles shrink into atoms. Emma became
interested, and began to ask questions.

'You will go to see the mother? Poor thing, I hope she may be alive to
hear of the prospect for her child. I am sorry to be unable to go and
see her, and should be so glad to know you near and able to attend to
her.'

'We will write to the housekeeper,' said Emma.

'Are you not going back yourself?'

'I don't know; I have no heart to think of it.'

'Emma,' said Theodora, 'we need not go on as if we did not understand
each other. Violet can attend to you now; I wish you would talk to her.
No one can comfort as she can.'

'I do not wish to tease her with my--'

'She knows, she longs to help you. Don't you know how fond of you she
always was? You two appreciated each other from the first.'

'It is of no use. She never entered into my views. She does not
understand. It is her situation I blame, not herself. She is a dear
creature, and I once had a strong girlish enthusiasm for her.'

'Once!' cried Theodora; 'what has she ever done to lessen enthusiasm for
all that is good and lovely?'

Emma hung her head, alarmed; and Theodora more gently insisted, till, by
the power which in childhood she had exerted over Emma, she forced out
an answer. 'Forgive me, if I must tell you. I have thought her too fond
of going out. It was no wonder, so very young as she was. I do not find
fault, but it seemed to dispel an illusion that she was superior to
other people. Don't you remember one party she would go to against
warning, that one where she fainted? I could never feel the same for her
afterwards.'

Theodora was silent for a few seconds, then exclaimed, 'O Violet, is
there no end to the injuries I have done you? Emma, never judge without
seeing behind the curtain. It was my fault. It was when I was crazed
with wilfulness. Your mother offered to chaperon me, I was set on
going with Mrs. Finch, and as the only means of preventing that,
Violet sacrificed herself. I did not know she likewise sacrificed the
friendship of the only person, except John,