u are
such a mental coward, that you are ashamed of my acquaintance, because
the world finds fault with me, for not living in accordance with its
lying customs. You are afraid lest people should sneer at you for
tolerating my eccentricities, as they please to term a person leading a
true life--or say, that Mrs. Lyndsay smokes, and drinks, and swears,
because Miss Carr does; and your sense of propriety is shocked at such
an idea. I do drink and smoke; but like Poll, in the sailor's song, '_I
seldom swear._' It gives me no pleasure; and I never do anything
gratuitously bad."

Flora could not deny, that these were among the objections she had to an
intimacy with Miss Carr; but she wisely held her tongue upon the
subject.

"Ah, well," said Wilhelmina, after waiting a reasonable time for an
answer, and getting none. "Your silence is very conclusive evidence of
the accusation I have brought against you. I give you credit for being
honest, at least. You are no sneak, though I am rich, and you are poor.
I verily believe, that you are prouder of your poverty, than I am of my
wealth. I know many persons who hate me, and would yet fawn to me before
my face, while they abused me like pickpockets behind my back. You are
not one of them, and I love you for that."

Flora had a kindness for Wilhelmina. She believed her to be mad, and not
accountable for her actions, and she tried to persuade her to give over
her rambling propensities, and accept the protection of her brother's
roof. This advice greatly displeased Miss Carr. Flora might as well have
striven to confine a hurricane within the bounds of a cambric
pocket-handkerchief, as to lay the least embargo upon that lady's
freedom of speech or action.

"Mind your own business! Mrs. Lyndsay," she said, angrily. "I suffer no
one to interfere with me, or my matters."

For many months Wilhelmina never entered the house, though she walked
past the window every day, to give Flora a hint that she was still in
the land of the living.

In February Mrs. Lyndsay's little girl was born; and for a very long
time she was too ill to stir abroad. Miss Carr sent Mrs. Turner every
day to inquire after her health; and testified her regard in a more
substantial form, by sending her two dozen of old Madeira wine, which
she said would strengthen and do her good. Flora was very grateful for
these little attentions, and felt ashamed of the repugnance she had
shown for Wilhelmina's society. But they n