forgetfulness, unable to confess the occasion of it. "It is of no
importance; I took the precaution of writing to him this afternoon,"
said her grandfather dryly, and Bessie's confusion was doubled. She
thought he would never have any confidence in her again. Presently he
said, "This is the last evening we shall be alone for some time,
Elizabeth. Mr. Cecil Burleigh and his sister Mary, whom you have seen,
will arrive to-morrow, and on Thursday you will go with me to Lady
Angleby's for a few nights. I trust you will be able to make a friend of
Miss Burleigh."

To this long speech Bessie gave her attention and a submissive assent,
followed by a rather silly wish: "I wish it was to Lady Latimer's we
were going instead of to Lady Angleby's; I don't like Lady Angleby."

"That does not much matter if you preserve the same measure of courtesy
toward her as if you did," rejoined her grandfather. "It is unnecessary
to announce your preferences and prejudices by word of mouth, and it
would be unpardonable to obtrude them by your behavior. It is not of
obligation that because she is a grand lady you should esteem her, but
it is of obligation that you should curtsey to her; you understand me?
Do not let your ironical humor mislead you into forgetting the first
principle of good manners--to render to all their due." Mr. Fairfax
also had read Pascal.

Bessie's cheeks burned under this severe admonition, but she did not
attempt to extenuate her fault, and after a brief silence her
grandfather said, to make peace, "It is not impossible that your longing
to see Lady Latimer may be gratified. She still comes into Woldshire at
intervals, and she will take an interest in Mr. Cecil Burleigh's
election." But Bessie felt too much put down to trust herself to speak
again, and the rest of the meal passed in a constrained quiet.

This was not the way towards a friendly and affectionate understanding.
Nevertheless, Bessie was not so crushed as she would have been but for
the vision of that unexplained cherub who had usurped the regions of her
imagination. If the time present wearied her, she had gained a wide
outlook to a _beyond_ that was bright enough to dream of, to inspire her
with hope, and sustain her against oppression. Mr. Fairfax discerned
that she felt her bonds more easy--perhaps expecting the time when they
would be loosed. His conjectures for a reason why were grounded on the
confidential propensities of women, and the probabilit