main line of her
purpose.

Mrs. Frankland winced at the question, and especially at the
straightforward thrust with which it was asked. But she said: "I only
advised her in a very general way. It was just after I had finished
speaking, and I wasn't able to take up the matter as carefully as I
should have liked to do, you know, until after I had rested."

"Did you advise her to break her engagement?" The steadiness with which
Mrs. Hilbrough pushed her inquiry was disagreeable to her companion, who
liked to find refuge from an unpleasant subject in vagueness of
statement. But at least she was not driven to bay yet; she had not
definitely advised Phillida to break with her lover.

"No; not that. I only gave her general advice to be faithful to her
convictions."

Mrs. Frankland's avoidance of the explicit confirmed Mrs. Hilbrough's
suspicion as to the tenor of the advice given. The latter blamed herself
for having moved too slowly, and she was impatient, moreover, with Mrs.
Frankland; for one is apt to be vexed when a person very clever in one
way is conspicuously stupid in other regards. When Mrs. Hilbrough spoke
again a trace of irritation showed itself.

"Phillida is the only person I know to whom I think your Bible readings
may do harm."

"My Bible readings?" queried Mrs. Frankland. She had been used so long
to hear her readings spoken of in terms not of praise but rather of
rapture, as though they were the result of a demi-divine inspiration,
that this implied censure or qualification of the universality of their
virtue and application came to her, not exactly as a personal offense,
but with the shock of something like profanation; and she reddened with
suppressed annoyance.

"I don't mean that it is your fault," said Mrs. Hilbrough, seeking to
get on a more diplomatic footing with her companion. "Phillida is very
peculiar and enthusiastic in her nature, and she knows nothing of the
world. She is prone to take all exhortations rather too literally."

"But my words have often encouraged Phillida," said Mrs. Frankland, who
had been touched to the quick. "You would rob me of one of the solid
comforts of my life if you took from me the belief that I have been able
to strengthen her for her great work."

"I am sure you have encouraged her to go on," said Mrs. Hilbrough,
desirous not to antagonize Mrs. Frankland. "But she also needs
moderating. She is engaged to an admirable man, a man getting to be very
well of