l, and the scales, she hardly knew
why, continued to balance with annoying nicety.

For the making up of the frocks, she was obliged to apply for advice to
Eliza, who was the only patron of dressmakers with whom she was
intimate.

"I think, on the whole, she is satisfactory," said Eliza of one whom she
had employed. "She made the dress I have on, for instance; it fits
pretty well, you see."

Sophia did not resent this. Eliza had had a rocket-like career of
success in the hotel which pleased and amused her; but she felt that to
forgive the Brown family for having a carriage and pair required
large-mindedness while her father's carriage still stood in the
unfurnished drawing-room, and even Mrs. Rexford had given up hopes of
finding horses to draw it.

Very soon after, their annual arrival, Mr. and Mrs. Brown and their two
daughters came kindly to call on the new English family. Principal
Trenholme found time to run over by appointment and introduce his
friends. The visitors were evidently generous-minded, wholesome sort of
people, with no high development of the critical faculty, travelled,
well-read, merry, and kind. Sophia confessed to herself after the first
interview that, had it not been for their faulty degree of wealth and
prosperity, she would have liked them very much. Mrs. Bennett, whose
uncle had been an admiral, considered them desirable friends for her
daughter, and this was another reason why, out of pure contrariness,
Sophia found liking difficult; but she determined for Trenholme's sake
to try--a good resolution which lasted until she had taken Blue and Red
to return the call, but no longer.

"And Miss Rexford," said good Mrs. Brown, "we hear you have had the
privilege of knowing Principal Trenholme for a long time before he came
out here. He is a very _good_ man; for so comparatively young a man, and
one, as you might say, with so many worldly advantages, I think it is
perhaps remarkable that he is so spiritually-minded. I count it a
blessing that we have the opportunity of attending his church during the
summer months." Simple sense and perfect sincerity were written on every
line of Mrs. Brown's motherly face.

"He really is very good," said one of the daughters. "Do you know, Miss
Rexford, we have a friend who has a son at the college. He really went
to the college a _very_ naughty boy, no one could manage him; and he's
so changed--such a nice fellow, and doing so well. His mother says she
coul