rticular in hands at full liberty either to spot or to spare her, was
touching enough to bring tears to all eyes. It perhaps had to do with
the sudden emotion with which--using now quite a different manner--Mrs.
Brookenham again embraced her, and even with this lady's equally abrupt
and altogether wonderful address to her: "Between you and me straight,
my dear, and as from friend to friend, I know you'll never doubt that
everything must be all right!--What I spoke of to poor Mitchy," she went
on to the Duchess, "is the dreadful view you take of my letting Nanda go
to Tishy--and indeed of the general question of any acquaintance between
young unmarried and young married females. Mr. Mitchett's sufficiently
interested in us, Jane, to make it natural of me to take him into our
confidence in one of our difficulties. On the other hand we feel your
solicitude, and I needn't tell you at this time of day what weight
in every respect we attach to your judgement. Therefore it WILL be a
difficulty for us, cara mia, don't you see? if we decide suddenly,
under the spell of your influence, that our daughter must break off a
friendship--it WILL be a difficulty for us to put the thing to Nanda
herself in such a way as that she shall have some sort of notion of what
suddenly possesses us. Then there'll be the much stiffer job of putting
it to poor Tishy. Yet if her house IS an impossible place what else is
one to do? Carrie Donner's to be there, and Carrie Donner's a nature
apart; but how can we ask even a little lamb like Tishy to give up her
own sister?"

The question had been launched with an argumentative sharpness that
made it for a moment keep possession of the air, and during this moment,
before a single member of the circle could rally, Mrs. Brookenham's
effect was superseded by that of the reappearance of the butler. "I say,
my dear, don't shriek!"--Edward Brookenham had only time to sound this
warning before a lady, presenting herself in the open doorway, followed
close on the announcement of her name. "Mrs. Beach Donner!"--the
impression was naturally marked. Every one betrayed it a little but
Mrs. Brookenham, who, more than the others, appeared to have the help
of seeing that by a merciful stroke her visitor had just failed to hear.
This visitor, a young woman of striking, of startling appearance, who,
in the manner of certain shiny house-doors and railings, instantly
created a presumption of the lurking label "Fresh paint,"