ll us that love alone remembers
trifles. Is n't this a proof of it, Gusty?"

"Read Temple now, and try to put me in better temper with him than I
feel at this moment."

"I could n't feel angry with Temple," said she, quietly. "All he does
and all he says so palpably springs from consideration of self, that
it would be unjust to resent in him what one would not endure from
another. In fact, he means no harm to any one, and a great deal of good
to Temple Bramleigh."

"And you think that commendable?"

"I have not said so; but it certainly would not irritate me."

She opened the letter after this and read it over leisurely.

"Well, and what do you say now, Nelly?" asked he.

"That it's Temple all over; he does not know why in this shipwreck every
one is not helping to make a lifeboat for him. It seems such an obvious
and natural thing to do that he regards the omission as scarcely
credible."

"Does he not see--does he not care for the ruin that has overtaken us?"

"Yes, he sees it, and is very sorry for it; but he opines, at the same
time, that the smallest amount of the disaster should fall to his share.
Here's something very different," said she, taking a letter from her
pocket. "This is from Julia. She writes from her little villa at Albano,
and asks us to come and stay with them."

"How thoroughly kind and good-natured!"

"Was it not, Gusty? She goes over how we are to be lodged, and is full
of little plans of pleasure and enjoyment; she adds, too, what a benefit
you would be to poor George, who is driven half wild with the meddlesome
interference of the Church magnates. They dictate to him in everything,
and a Mrs. Trumpler actually sends him the texts on which she desires
him to hold forth; while Lady Augusta persecutes him with projects in
which theological discussion, as she understands it, is to be carried
on in rides over the Campagna, and picnics to the hills behind Albano.
Julia says that he will not be able to bear it without the comfort and
companionship of some kind friend, to whom he can have recourse in his
moments of difficulty."

"It would be delightful to go there, Nelly; but it is impossible."

"I know it is," said she, gravely.

"We could not remove so far from England while this affair is yet
undetermined. We must remain where we can communicate easily with
Sedley."

"There are scores of reasons against the project," said she, in the same
grave tone. "Let us not speak of it more."