knew better, John!'

'I knew it was very little, but when I considered the rest, I did not
see how she could contrive to give herself more.'

'There must be some miscalculation,' said Lord Martindale. 'There is not
the least occasion for her to be straitened. You thought yourself the
allowance was ample.'

'That it is; but you know Arthur has been used to expensive habits.'

'More shame for him.'

'But one can hardly expect him to reduce at once. I do think he is
sincere in his promises, but he will be careless, even in ordinary
expenditure. I don't say this is what ought to be, but I fear it will
be. All the prudence and self-denial must be upon her side.'

'And that from a girl of sixteen, universally admired! What a business
it is! Not that I blame her, poor thing, but I don't see what is to
become of them.'

The conversation was not without results. Lord Martindale, some little
time after, put into Violet's hand an envelope, telling her she must
apply the contents to her own use; and she was astounded at finding it a
cheque for L100. He was going to London, with both his sons, to choose a
house for Arthur, and to bid farewell to John, who was warned, by a few
chilly days, to depart for a winter in Madeira.

Violet was, during her husband's absence, to be left at Rickworth;
and in the last week she had several other presents, a splendid
dressing-case from Lady Martindale, containing more implements than she
knew how to use, also the print of Lalla Rookh; and even little Miss
Piper had spent much time and trouble on a very ugly cushion. Theodora
declared her present should be useful, and gave all the household linen,
for the purpose of having it hemmed by her school-children;--and this,
though she and Miss Piper sat up for three nights till one o'clock to
hasten it, was so far from ready, that Captain and Mrs. Martindale would
have begun the world without one table-cloth, if old Aunt Moss had not
been hemming for them ever since the day of Arthur's proposal.

Theodora was weary and impatient of the conflict of influence, and
glad to be left to her own pursuits, while she thought that, alone with
Violet, Arthur must surely be brought to a sense of his mistake.

Violet's heart bounded at the prospect of a renewal of the happy days at
Winchester, and of a release from the restraint of Martindale, and the
disappointment of making no friends with the family,--Mr. Martindale was
the only one of them with whom sh