u did not tell me this before my drive with her.

MRS. M. No, I never saw you alone; besides, I thought you would
speak more freely without the knowledge. And, to tell the truth, I
did think it possible that consideration for me might bring my poor
Cissy down to us, and that when once under my father's influence,
all these mists might clear away. But I do not deserve it. I have
been an unfaithful parent, shutting my eyes in feeble indulgence,
and letting her drift into these quicksands.

MRS. H. Fashion and imitation, my dear Mary; it will pass away.
Now, you are not to talk any more.

MRS. M. I can't-- (A SPASM COMES ON.)

X. AUNT AND NEPHEW

SCENE.--SIX MONTHS LATER, DARKGLADE VICARAGE, A DARKENED ROOM. MRS.
HOLLAND AND LUCIUS.

MRS. H. Yes, Lucius, we have all much to reproach ourselves with;
even poor grandpapa is heart-broken at having been too much absorbed
to perceive how your dear mother was overtasked.

L. You did all you could, aunt; you took home one child, and caused
the other to be sent to school.

MRS. H. Yes, too late to be of any use.

L. And after all, I don't think it was overwork that broke the poor
dear one down, so much as grief at that wretched sister of mine.

MRS. H. Don't speak of her in that way, Lucius.

L. How can I help it? I could say worse!

MRS. H. She is broken-hearted, poor thing.

L. Well she may be.

MRS. H. Ah, the special point of sorrow to your dear mother was
that she blamed herself, for--

L. How could she? How can you say so, aunt?

MRS. H. Wait a moment, Lucius. What grieved her was the giving in
to Cissy's determination, seeing with her eyes, and not allowing
herself to perceive that what she wished might not be good for her.

L. Cissy always did domineer over mother.

MRS. H. Yes; and your mother was so used to thinking Cissy's
judgment right that she never could or would see when it was time to
make a stand, and prevent her own first impressions from being
talked down as old-fashioned,--letting her eyes be bandaged, in
fact.

L. So she vexed herself over Cissy's fault; but did not you try to
make Cissy see what she was about?

MRS. H. True; but if love had blinded my dear sister, Cissy was
doubly blinded--

L. By conceit and self-will.

MRS. H. Poor girl, I am too sorry for her now to use those hard
words, but I am afraid it is true. First she could or would not see
either that her companions might be undesirable