izabeth and her daughter, and
she was supremely happy in talking about her own dear lake country.
Arthur smiled, and looked well pleased to see her in such company; and
Mr. Martindale came and talked to Lady Elizabeth all the evening.

Violet expected Theodora to monopolize Miss Brandon the next morning,
but Theodora had reasons of her own for not breaking her habit of
spending the morning in her own occupations. She knew Lady Elizabeth to
be perfectly guiltless of manoeuvring; but from the time she had become
conscious of Mrs. Nesbit's designs on Rickworth, first for Arthur and
now for John, it had been her decided purpose to give no colour for
throwing the heiress in their way by any friendship of hers; and as
she considered Emma one of the dullest and most silly girls of her
acquaintance, it was very pleasant to be justified in neglecting her.

The office of companionship to the younger visitor fell to Mrs.
Martindale. She showed off the peacock, and they wandered happily in
the gardens, most amiably received by Mr. Harrison, who delighted
in displaying his treasures, and almost overwhelmed Violet with his
graciousness, when she shyly asked if he could spare her a few of his
white roses for her hair.

Miss Brandon groaned and sighed about the ball, declaring it her
detestation; she should be tired to death; she hated dancing; and above
all, there was the nuisance of dressing.

'Oh! I am sorry you don't like it,' said Violet, 'but that is the way
with all sensible people.'

'No; mamma says it is not being sensible, but because I don't dance
well, and she wishes I did.'

'I am glad of that. My mamma does not think it foolish.'

'Do you like dancing, then?'

'That I do,' cried Violet, making a few steps; 'I only wish I might
dance with him still!'

This was the only difference of opinion--on school-teaching
books--heroes, historical and fictitious--on the "Bridal of
Triermain"--and Wordsworth's Waggoner, their sentiments accorded
exactly. Perhaps Emma's mind was the more formed and cultivated, but
Violet's was the more discerning and diffident in judgment.

Emma took the first opportunity of pouring out to her mother a perfect
rapture about Mrs. Martindale, dwelling on her right views, and all that
showed she had been well brought up.

'She is a sweet-looking creature,' said Lady Elizabeth, 'and I do hope
she is all she seems. Lord Martindale has been telling me how entirely
the marriage was her father's d