rt, as Fanny would have had her do.

Mrs. Robarts herself was what we call demonstrative. When she was
angry with Lady Lufton she showed it. And as since that time her
love and admiration for Lady Lufton had increased, she showed that
also. When she was in any way displeased with her husband, she could
not hide it, even though she tried to do so, and fancied herself
successful;--no more than she could hide her warm, constant,
overflowing woman's love. She could not walk through a room hanging
on her husband's arm without seeming to proclaim to every one there
that she thought him the best man in it. She was demonstrative, and
therefore she was the more disappointed in that Lucy did not rush at
once with all her cares into her open heart. "She is so quiet," Fanny
said to her husband.

"That's her nature," said Mark. "She always was quiet as a child.
While we were smashing everything, she would never crack a teacup."

"I wish she would break something now," said Fanny, "and then perhaps
we should get to talk about it." But she did not on this account give
over loving her sister-in-law. She probably valued her the more,
unconsciously, for not having those aptitudes with which she herself
was endowed. And then after two days Lady Lufton called: of course
it may be supposed that Fanny had said a good deal to her new inmate
about Lady Lufton. A neighbour of that kind in the country exercises
so large an influence upon the whole tenor of one's life, that to
abstain from such talk is out of the question. Mrs. Robarts had
been brought up almost under the dowager's wing, and of course she
regarded her as being worthy of much talking. Do not let persons
on this account suppose that Mrs. Robarts was a tuft-hunter, or a
toad-eater. If they do not see the difference they have yet got to
study the earliest principles of human nature.

Lady Lufton called, and Lucy was struck dumb. Fanny was particularly
anxious that her ladyship's first impression should be favourable,
and to effect this, she especially endeavoured to throw the two
together during that visit. But in this she was unwise. Lady Lufton,
however, had woman-craft enough not to be led into any egregious
error by Lucy's silence. "And what day will you come and dine with
us?" said Lady Lufton, turning expressly to her old friend Fanny.

"Oh, do you name the day. We never have many engagements, you know."

"Will Thursday do, Miss Robarts? You will meet nobody you know, onl