young, but by and by you would not wish
to have them feeling that we are not like their other relations. My dear
child, you need not blush to that degree!'

'They will never feel that you are not equal to--to the grandest--the
dearest!' said Violet, tearfully.

'You would try not to let them, dearest, but the truth would be too
strong,' said Mrs. Moss, smiling. 'You know we had been content to think
poor Louisa our model of manners till you came among us again.'

'O, mamma! at least there was Lady Lucy.'

'And now we see you fit company for Lady Lucy, and that we are not. No,
my dear, don't deny it; I see it in your ease with her, and it is quite
right.'

'I don't like to think so!'

'I understand better now,' said Mrs. Moss. 'Perhaps it would have been
more advisable if there had been no intermingling of ranks, yet I can
hardly regret, when I see you, my Violet. It has raised your whole tone
of mind, but it has cut you off from us, and we cannot conceal it from
ourselves. If you do come here, you must make up your mind beforehand
not to be too intimate even with Olivia and George.'

'I am very glad I am not to settle it,' said Violet, with a sigh. 'I
should be much disappointed to give it up, and yet sometimes--it will
be some consolation at least to find that you have not set your heart on
it, mamma?'

'I have left off setting my heart on anything, my dear child, said Mrs.
Moss, with a sigh, telling of many and many a disappointment. Sincerely
religious as she was, it was out of sight, and scarcely a word was ever
breathed to her daughter of her true spring of action.

There was a feeling that she was not mistaken in thinking that too much
intercourse was not desirable. Arthur was apt to call the distance from
Wrangerton to Lassonthwayte seven miles, instead of five, and soon it
grew to nine, with a bad road and a shocking hill. This was after he had
discovered from Mr. Hunt that Lord St. Erme's affairs had fallen into
a most unsatisfactory state, while the Messrs. Moss had been amassing a
comfortable fortune; and that every one knew that the colliery accident
was chiefly owing to Albert's negligence, cowardice, and contempt of
orders; so that it was the general marvel that the Earl did not expose
them, and remove his affairs from their hands.

Arthur could suppose that the cause of this forbearance might be the
connection between Theodora and the Moss family; and the idea made him
feel almost guilty when