s
to your carriage like a gentleman. And then you won't forget poor old
nursey-pursey.'

'Oh, no, nurse; I'll give you a ride in my carriage!'

Honora in her listless state had let Mr. Saville think for her, and
passively obeyed him when he sent her back to Sandbeach to wind up her
affairs there, while he finished off the valuations and other painful
business at the Holt, in which she could be of little use, since all she
desired was to keep everything as it was. She was anxious to return as
soon as possible, so as to take up the reins before there had been time
for the relaxation to be felt, the only chance she felt of her being able
to fulfil his charge. The removal, the bustle, the talking things over
with Miss Wells, and the sight of the children did much to restore her,
and her old friend rejoiced to see that necessary occupation was tending
to make her time pass more cheerfully than she perhaps knew.

As to the dear old City dwelling, it might have fetched an immense price,
but only to become a warehouse, a measure that would have seemed to Honor
little short of sacrilege. To let it, in such a locality, was
impossible, so it must remain unavailable capital, and Honora decided on
leaving her old housekeeper therein, with a respectable married niece,
who would inhabit the lower regions, and keep the other rooms in order,
for an occasional stay in London. She would have been sorry to cut
herself off from a month of London in the spring, and the house might
farther be useful to friends who did not object to the situation; or
could be lent now and then to a curate; and she could well afford to keep
it up, so she thought herself justified in following her inclination, and
went up for three mournful days of settling matters there, and packing
books and ornaments till the rooms looked so dismantled that she could
not think how to face them again.

It was the beginning of October when she met Miss Wells, children, and
luggage at the station, and fairly was on her way to her home. She tried
to call it so, as a duty to Humfrey, but it gave her a pang every time,
and in effect she felt far less at home than when he and Sarah had stood
in the doorway to greet the arrivals. She had purposely fixed an hour
when it would be dark, so that she might receive no painful welcome; she
wished no one to greet her, she had rather they were mourning for their
master. She had more than once shocked Miss Wells by declaring heiress