es, Helen has
succeeded to my aunt's vacant throne, and my mother is never so hurt
as when Violet interferes with any of her vagaries. The other day, when
Violet carried her off roaring at not being allowed to turn grandmamma's
work-box inside out, her ladyship made a formal remonstrance to me on
letting the poor child's spirit be broken by strictness.'

'I hope you told her that some spirits would be glad to have been broken
long ago,' said Theodora.

'I only told her I had perfect faith in Violet's management.'

Percy was wanted speedily to set off for his new situation, and
the question of the marriage became difficult. His income was fully
sufficient, but Theodora had many scruples about leaving her mother,
whom the last winter had proved to be unfit to be left without
companionship. They doubted and consulted, and agreed that they must be
self-denying; but John came to their relief. He shrank with a sort of
horror from permitting such a sacrifice as his own had been; held that
it would be positively wrong to let their union be delayed any longer,
and found his father of the same opinion, though not knowing how Lady
Martindale would bear the loss. Perhaps his habit of flinching from
saying to her what he expected her to dislike, had been one cause of
Mrs. Nesbit's supremacy.

John, therefore, undertook to open her eyes to the necessity of
relinquishing her daughter, intending to offer himself as her companion
and attendant, ready henceforth to devote himself to her comfort, as the
means of setting free those who still had a fair prospect.

As usual, Lady Martindale's reluctance had been overrated. John found
that she had never calculated on anything but Theodora's marrying at
once; she only observed that she supposed it could not be helped, and
she was glad her dear aunt was spared the sight.

'And you will not miss her so much when I am at home.'

'You, my dear; I am never so happy as when you are here; but I do not
depend on you. I should like you to spend this winter abroad, and then
we must have you in Parliament again.'

'If I were sure that you would be comfortable,' said John; 'but
otherwise I could not think of leaving you.'

'I was thinking,' said Lady Martindale, with the slowness of one little
wont to originate a scheme, 'how pleasant it would be, if we could keep
Arthur and Violet always with us. I cannot bear to part with the dear
children, and I am sure they will all be ill again if they go b