everything must be put aside.'

'John desired you would not think it an act of charity,' said her
father. 'He says he finds her a most agreeable companion, and you need
only look upon it as a pleasant scheme for all parties.'

'Oh,' said Theodora, in a different tone.

'He said you were not to put yourself out of the way. He would be
very glad of your company, and it will be very good for you all to be
together.'

'Oh! then I don't think it is worth while for me to go,' said Theodora.
'I am much obliged to John, but I should only interfere with his course
of education.'

'Not go?' said her father.

'No, there is no occasion; and I wish to be at home as soon as I can.'

'Well, my dear, you must decide your own way, but I thought you would be
glad of the opportunity of being with John, and I should be glad, too,
that you should see more of your sister. She is a very engaging person,
and I am sure you would find her a more satisfactory companion than Mrs.
Finch.'

After this speech, Theodora would have suffered considerably rather than
have gone.

'They will soon be at Martindale,' she said, 'and I cannot stay longer
away from the village.'

'I wish at least that you would go down as I did for a day with Arthur.
You would enjoy it, and it would give them all pleasure. Indeed, I think
it would only be a proper piece of attention on your part.'

She made no answer, but the next time Arthur was going, she instantly
stopped all her father's arrangements for her accompanying him, by
saying she was going to a lecture on electricity; then, when Lord
Martindale began asking if Arthur could not change his day, she
majestically said, 'No, Arthur would not disappoint Mrs. Martindale on
my account.'

'If you would go, Theodora,' said Arthur, eagerly, 'Violet would not
mind waiting. She would be specially pleased to show you the boy. It is
very jolly there.'

The first time he had spoken to her of his three months' old son. If she
had not been in a dire fit of sullen jealousy, it would have softened as
much as it thrilled her, but she had the notion that she was not wanted,
except to do homage to the universally-petted Violet.

'I cannot spare a day.'

So Arthur was vexed, and the frost was harder. John had not much
expected Theodora, and was more sorry for her sake than his own. The
last month was still better than the first, the brother and sister
understood each other more fully, and their confidence had become