can save her, were the surrounding evil far worse
than ever it is likely to be. The intermixture with good is the trial,
and is it not so everywhere--ever since the world and the Church have
seemed fused together? But she will soon be the child of a Father who
guards His own; and, at least, I can pray for her, and her dear mother.
May I only live better, that so I may pray better, and act better, if
ever I should have to act."

There was a happy family gathering on the New Year's Day, and Flora, who
had kindly felt her way with Meta, finding her not yet ready to enjoy
a public festivity for the village, added a supplement to the Christmas
beef, that a second dinner might be eaten at home, in honour of Miss
Leonora Rivers.

Lady Leonora was highly satisfied with her visit, which impressed her
far more in favour of the Abbotstoke neighbourhood than in the days
of poor old Mr. Rivers. Flora knew every one, and gave little select
dinner-parties, which, by her good management, even George, at the
bottom of the table, could not make heavy. Dr. Spencer enjoyed them
greatly, and was an unfailing resource for conversation; and as to the
Hoxtons, Flora felt herself amply repaying the kindness she had received
in her young lady days, when she walked down to the dining-room with
the portly headmaster, or saw his good lady sit serenely admiring
the handsome rooms. "A very superior person, extremely pleasing and
agreeable," was the universal verdict on Mrs. Rivers. Lady Leonora
struck up a great friendship with her, and was delighted that she meant
to take Meta to London. The only fault that could be found with her was
that she had so many brothers; and Flora, recollecting that her ladyship
mistrusted those brothers, avoided encouraging their presence at the
Grange, and took every precaution against any opening for the suspicion
that she threw them in the way of her little sister-in-law.

Nor had Flora forgotten the Ladies' Committee, or Cocksmoor. As to the
muses, they gave no trouble at all. Exemplary civilities about the chair
passed between the Member's lady and Mrs. Ledwich, ending in Flora's
insisting that priority in office should prevail, feeling that she could
well afford to yield the post of honour, since anywhere she was the
leader. She did not know how much more conformable the ladies had
been ever since they had known Dr. Spencer's opinion; and yet he only
believed that they were grateful for good advice, and went abo