d Mrs. Western welcome back to her old home;
but from the nature of the circumstances there could hardly be much
heartiness in the attempt. Mrs. Thorne came over from Honiton to see
her, but even between Cecilia and Maude Hippesley, who was certainly
the most cherished of her Exeter friends, there could be no free
confidence, although there was much sympathy. Mrs. Western could
bring herself to speak evil to no one of her husband. She had, with
much passion, told the entire story to her mother, but when her
mother had begun to say hard words respecting him Cecilia had found
it impossible to bear them. Had her mother taken Mr. Western's
part, it may be doubted whether she could have endured that. There
was no speech concerning him which was possible for her ears. She
still looked forward to the chance of having him back again, and if
he would come back, if he would take her back, then he should be
entirely forgiven. He should be so forgiven that no mutual friend
should have heard a word of reproach from her lips. She herself would
know how hardly she had been used; but there should be no one to say
that she had ever been heard to complain of her husband. Not the less
was her heart full of wrath. Not the less did she during every hour
of the day turn over in her thoughts the terrible injustice of which
she had been the victim. But it can be understood that even to her
old friend Maude Hippesley, who was now happy in her new home as
Mrs. Thorne, she could not talk openly of the circumstances of her
separation. But there was, alas, no other subject of such interest to
her at the present moment as to give matter for free conversation.

The Dean's family, and especially Mrs. Hippesley, attempted to be
kind to her. The Dean himself came down and called with much decanal
grandeur, conspicuous as he walked up to the Hall door with shovel
hat and knee breeches. But even the Dean could not do much. He had
intended to take Mrs. Western's part as against his brother-in-law,
having been no doubt prompted by some old feeling of favour towards
Cecilia Holt; but now he was given to understand that this Mr.
Western had also gone astray, and in such a way as to make it hardly
possible that he should talk about it. He called therefore and took
her by the hand, and expressed a hope that all things should be made
to go straight, and then he left her, taking her by the hand again,
and endeavouring to prove his esteem by his manner of doing so