ill be able to kiss my mother
before you leave us."

"No, Justinia; I cannot wait. I must answer Mr. Robarts by this post,
and I must think what I have to say to him. I could not write that
letter here, and the post goes at four." And Mrs. Robarts got up from
her chair, preparatory to her final departure.

"I shall come to you before dinner," said Lady Meredith; "and if I
can bring you good tidings, I shall expect you to come back here with
me. It is out of the question that I should go away from Framley
leaving you and my mother at enmity with each other." To this Mrs.
Robarts made no answer; and in a very few minutes afterwards she was
in her own nursery, kissing her children, and teaching the elder one
to say something about papa. But, even as she taught him, the tears
stood in her eyes, and the little fellow knew that everything was not
right. And there she sat till about two, doing little odds and ends
of things for the children, and allowing that occupation to stand
as an excuse to her for not commencing her letter. But then there
remained only two hours to her, and it might be that the letter would
be difficult in the writing--would require thought and changes, and
must needs be copied, perhaps, more than once. As to the money, that
she had in the house--as much, at least, as Mark now wanted, though
the sending of it would leave her nearly penniless. She could,
however, in case of personal need, resort to Davis as desired by him.

So she got out her desk in the drawing-room and sat down and wrote
her letter. It was difficult, though she found that it hardly took so
long as she expected. It was difficult, for she felt bound to tell
him the truth; and yet she was anxious not to spoil all his pleasure
among his friends. She told him, however, that Lady Lufton was very
angry, "unreasonably angry, I must say," she put in, in order to
show that she had not sided against him. "And, indeed, we have quite
quarrelled, and this has made me unhappy, as it will you, dearest; I
know that. But we both know how good she is at heart, and Justinia
thinks that she had other things to trouble her; and I hope it will
all be made up before you come home; only, dearest Mark, pray do not
be longer than you said in your last letter." And then there were
three or four paragraphs about the babies, and two about the schools,
which I may as well omit. She had just finished her letter, and was
carefully folding it for its envelope, with th