ow far above him her sphere had become, and to
decide against his future admission to her parties.

The young ladies, as soon as tea was over, retired into corners in pairs,
having on their side much to communicate. Rose Rollstone was at home for
a holiday, after having begun to work at an establishment for art and
ecclesiastical needlework, and it was no small treat to her and Constance
to meet and compare their new experiences. Rose, always well brought up
by her father, was in a situation carefully trained by a lady head, and
watched over by those who deepened and cultivated her religious feeling;
and Constance had to tell of the new facilities of education offered to
them. Ida was too delicate for school, their mother said, and was only
to have music lessons at Brighton, or in London whenever the present
house could be parted with; but Herbert had already begun to work with a
tutor for the army, and Constance was to go to the High School at Colbeam
and spend her Sundays at Northmoor, where a prettily-furnished room was
set apart for her. She described it with so much zest that Rose was
seized with a sort of alarm. 'You will live there like all the lords and
ladies that papa talks of, and grow worldly and fashionable.'

'Oh no, no,' cried Constance, and there was a girlish kissing match, but
Rose seemed to think worldliness inevitable.

'The Earl my papa lived with used to bet and gamble, and come home
dreadfully late at night, and so did my lady and her daughters, and their
poor maid had to sit up for them till four o'clock in the morning. Then
their bills! They never told his lordship, but they sold their diamonds
and wore paste. His lordship did not know, but their maid did, and told
papa.'

Constance opened her eyes and declared that Uncle Frank and Aunt Mary
never could do such things. Moreover, she averred that Lady Adela was
always going about among the cottages, and that Miss Morton had not a bit
of pride, and was going to live in London to teach the dust-pickers and
match-box makers. 'Indeed, I don't think they are half as worldly in
themselves,' she said, 'as Ida is growing with thinking about them.'

'Ah, don't you remember the sermon that said worldliness didn't depend on
what one has, but what one is?'

'Talking of nothing better than sermons!' said Herbert, coming on them.
'Have you caught it of the governor, Con? I believe he thinks of nothing
but sermons.'

And Constance exclaimed, '