and he too agreeably flattered himself for the corrective
reflection to ensue, that he had not done anything. It disposed him
to think a happy passivity more sagacious than a restless activity.
We should let Fortune perform her part at the wheel in working out her
ends, should we not?--for, ten to one, nine times out of ten we are
thwarting her if we stretch out a hand. And with the range of enjoyments
possessed by Victor, why this unceasing restlessness? Why, when we are
not near drowning, catch at apparent straws, which may be instruments
having sharp edges? Themison, as Mrs. Burman's medical man, might tell
the lady tales that would irritate her bag of venom.

Rarely though Fenellan was the critic on his friend, the shadow cast
over his negligent hedonism by Victor's boiling pressure, drove him
into the seat of judgement. As a consequence, he was rather a dull
table-guest in the presence of Dr. Themison, whom their host had pricked
to anticipate high entertainment from him. He did nothing to bridge the
crevasse and warm the glacier air at table when the doctor, anecdotal
intentionally to draw him out, related a decorous but pungent story of
one fair member of a sweet new sisterhood in agitation against the fixed
establishment of our chain-mail marriage-tie. An anecdote of immediate
diversion was wanted, expected: and Fenellan sat stupidly speculating
upon whether the doctor knew of a cupboard locked. So that Dr. Themison
was carried on by Lady Grace Halley's humourous enthusiasm for the
subject to dilate and discuss and specify, all in the irony of a
judicial leaning to the side of the single-minded social adventurers,
under an assumed accord with his audience; concluding: 'So there's an
end of Divorce.'

'By the trick of multiplication,' Fenellan, now reassured, was content
to say. And that did not extinguish the cracker of a theme; handled very
carefully, as a thing of fire, it need scarce be remarked, three young
women being present.

Nataly had eyes on her girl, and was pleased at an alertness shown by
Mr. Sowerby to second her by crossing the dialogue. As regarded her
personal feelings, she was hardened, so long as the curtains were about
her to keep the world from bending black brows of inquisition upon one
of its culprits. But her anxiety was vigilant to guard her girl from
an infusion of any of the dread facts of life not coming through the
mother's lips: and she was a woman having the feminine mind's puden