dow, and secretly
concluded that it might all be quite true, and that she had known a
young man make a fool of himself before now for such another. So they
all went in, unwitting that they came at the end of a domestic
hurricane, and that the waters were still in a state of disturbance.
Miss Wentworth took the only chair, as was natural, and sat down
sweetly to wait for Leonora, and Miss Dora lingered behind while her
sister made her purchases. Miss Leonora wanted some books--

"And I came here," she said, with engaging candour, "because I see no
other shop in this part of the town except Masters's, which, of
course, I would not enter. It is easy enough to do without books, but
I can't afford to compromise my principles, Mr Elsworthy;" to which Mr
Elsworthy had replied, "No, ma'am, of course not--such a thing aint to
be expected;" with one eye upon his customer, and one upon his
belligerent wife.

"And, by the by, if you will permit me to speak about what does not
concern me," said Miss Leonora cheerfully, "I think you should look
after that little girl of yours more carefully;--recollect I don't
mean any offence; but she's very pretty, you know, and very young, and
vain, as a matter of course. I saw her the other evening going down
Grange Lane, a great deal too late for such a creature to be out; and
though I don't doubt, you are very particular where she goes--"

It was at this conjuncture that Mrs Elsworthy, who could not keep
silence any longer, broke in ardently, with all her knitting-needles
in front of her, disposed like a kind of porcupine mail--

"I'm well known in Carlingford--better known than most," said Mrs
Elsworthy, with a sob; "such a thing as not being particular was never
named to me. I strive and I toil from morning to night, as all things
should be respectable and kep' in good order; but what's the good?
Here's my heart broken, that's all; and Elsworthy standing gaping like
a gaby as he is. There aint nothing as don't go contrairy, when folks
is tied to a set of fools!" cried the indignant matron. "As for
pretty, I don't know nothing about it; I've got too much to do minding
my own business. Them as has nothing to think of but stand in the shop
and twiddle their thumbs, ought to look to that; but, ma'am, if you'll
believe me, it aint no fault of mine. It aint my will to throw her in
any young gentleman's way; not to say a clergyman as we're bound to
respect. Whatever you does, ladies,--and I shou