as not uncivil. She is a handsome, proud woman, prone to speak out
what she thinks, and determined to have her own way when it is possible;
but I think that she intended to be civil to me personally."

"What is her purpose now?"

"Her purpose is clear enough. She means to marry Harry Clavering if she
can get him. She said so. She made no secret of what her wishes are."

"Then, Cissy, let her marry him; and do not let us trouble ourselves
further in the matter."

"But Florence, Theodore! Think of Florence!"

"I am thinking of her, and I think that Harry Clavering is not worth her
acceptance. She is as the traveller that fell among thieves. She is hurt
and wounded, but not dead. It is for you to be the good Samaritan, but
the oil which you should pour into her wounds is not a renewed hope as
to that worthless man. Let Lady Ongar have him. As far as I can see,
they are fit for each other."

Then she went through with him, diligently, all the arguments which she
had used with Florence, palliating Harry's conduct, and explaining the
circumstances of his disloyalty, almost as those circumstances had in
truth occurred. "I think you are too hard on him," she said. "You can't
be too hard on falsehood," he replied. "No, not while it exists. But you
would not be angry with a man forever because he should once have been
false? But we do not know that he is false." "Do we not?" said he. "But
never mind; we must go to dinner now. Does Florence know of your visit?"
Then, before she would allow him to leave his room, she explained to him
what had taken place between herself and Florence, and told him of the
letter that had been written to Mrs. Clavering. "She is right," said he.
"That way out of her difficulty is the best that is left to her." But,
nevertheless, Mrs. Burton was resolved that she would not as yet
surrender.

Theodore Burton, when he reached the drawing-room, went up to his sister
and kissed her. Such a sign of the tenderness of love was not common
with him, for he was one of those who are not usually demonstrative in
their affection. At the present moment he said nothing of what was
passing in his mind, nor did she. She simply raised her face to meet his
lips, and pressed his hand as she held it. What need was there of any
further sign between them than this? Then they went to dinner, and their
meal was eaten almost in silence. Almost every moment Cecilia's eye was
on her sister-in-law. A careful observer, had th