well-bred people forget themselves," said Grandmamma, "But it
is more allowable to be warm over some matters than others. Politics
are to some degree an exception. We do not make exhibitions of our
personal affections, Caroline, and above all things we avoid showing
warmth on religious questions. We do not talk of such things at all in
good society."

Now--I say this to my book, of course, not to Grandmamma--is not that
very strange? We are not to be warm over the most important things,
matters of life and death, things we really care about in our inmost
hearts: but over all the little affairs that we do not care about, we
may lose our tempers a little (in an elegant and reasonable way) if we
choose to do so. Would it not be better the other way about?

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note 1. The use of the subjunctive with _when_ and _until_, now
obsolete, was correct English until the present century was some thirty
years old.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

CARY IN A NEW CHARACTER.

"God has a few of us whom He whispers in the ear."

BROWNING.

I feel more and more certain that something is wrong in Charles Street.
The invitation is declined, not by Hatty herself, but in a note from
Mrs Crossland: "Miss Hester Courtenay has so sad a catarrh that it will
not be safe for her to venture out for some days to come." [Note 1.]

"Why, Cary, that is a disappointment for you," said my Uncle Charles,
kindly. "I think, Madam, as Hester cannot come, Mrs Crossland might
have offered a counter-invitation to Caroline."

"It would have been well-bred," said Grandmamma. "Mrs Crossland is not
very well connected. She was the daughter or niece of an archdeacon, I
believe; rather raised by her marriage. I am sorry you are
disappointed, child."

This was a good deal for Grandmamma to say, and I thanked her.

Well, one thing had failed me; I must try another. At the next evening
assembly I watched my chance, and caught Charlotte in a corner. I asked
how Hatty was.

"Hatty?" said Charlotte, looking surprised. "She is well enough, for
aught I know."

"I thought she had a bad catarrh?" said I.

"Didn't know she had one. She is going to my Lady Milworth's assembly
with Mrs Crossland."

I felt more sure of ill-play than ever, but to Charlotte I said no more.
The next person whom I pinned to the wall was Amelia. With her I felt
more need of caution in one sense, for I did