rtheless.'

Christopher made no reply. The warm understanding between them had quite
ended now, and there was no fanning it up again. Sudden tiffs had been
the constant misfortune of their courtship in days gone by, had been the
remote cause of her marriage to another; and the familiar shadows seemed
to be rising again to cloud them with the same persistency as ever.
Christopher went downstairs with well-behaved moodiness, and left the
house forthwith. The postman came to the door at the same time.

Ethelberta opened a letter from Picotee--now at Sandbourne again; and,
stooping to the fire-light, she began to read:--

'MY DEAR ETHELBERTA,--I have tried to like staying at Sandbourne
because you wished it, but I can't endure the town at all, dear Berta;
everything is so wretched and dull! O, I only wish you knew how
dismal it is here, and how much I would give to come to London! I
cannot help thinking that I could do better in town. You see, I
should be close to you, and should have the benefit of your
experience. I would not mind what I did for a living could I be there
where you all are. It is so like banishment to be here. If I could
not get a pupil-teachership in some London school (and I believe I
could by advertising) I could stay with you, and be governess to
Georgina and Myrtle, for I am sure you cannot spare time enough to
teach them as they ought to be taught, and Emmeline is not old enough
to have any command over them. I could also assist at your
dressmaking, and you must require a great deal of that to be done if
you continue to appear in public. Mr. Long read in the papers the
account of your first evening, and afterwards I heard two ladies of
our committee talking about it; but of course not one of them knew my
personal interest in the discussion. Now will you, Ethelberta, think
if I may not come: Do, there's a dear sister! I will do anything you
set me about if I may only come.--Your ever affectionate,
PICOTEE.'

'Great powers above--what worries do beset me!' cried Ethelberta, jumping
up. 'What can possess the child so suddenly?--she used to like
Sandbourne well enough!' She sat down, and hastily scribbled the
following reply:--

'MY DEAR PICOTEE--There is only a little time to spare before the post
goes, but I will try to answer your letter at once. Whatever is the
reason of this extraordinary dislike to Sandbour