children. Had not Gertrude a house in Cavendish-square, and
Winston Park, and a philosophical fool not ten years older than
herself? Companionship--Ridiculous: there was plenty in the world.
Home--Rococo: one lived abroad. With some soliloquy of this nature,
did a withered heart excuse itself for spreading desolation like its
own, conscious all the while that its pretences were false, saying,
not thinking, the thing that was not.

Gertrude sought her sister on leaving Mrs. Pendarrel, and found her in
a humour very different from what she had expected.

"So, Mildred, dear," she said, "we part. They take you to the
enchanted castle, and where is the knight to wind the magic horn?
Seriously, my poor sister, what will you do at Pendarrel?"

"Do, Gertrude!" exclaimed the younger sister, who might have been
dreaming of the knight. "My despondency is gone. I am ready for the
worst."

"And prepared...."

"Not to marry Mr. Melcomb, I assure you. You may lead a horse to the
water, but who shall make him drink? All the vixen rises in my bosom,
Gertrude. Mamma said something about my daring. I believe she has put
me fairly upon my mettle, and will find I inherit it from her. So!
Mildred!"

She flourished an imaginary whip. Her sister was perplexed, and a
little troubled at her manner. She changed it suddenly.

"Oh, Gertrude!" she said, "do not think this levity comes from a light
heart. I do know how hard a part I have to play. I do contemplate with
sorrow this visit to Pendarrel,--so different from those in the old
time, when we loved the country so much. With sorrow, but without
fear."

"Ah, my sister!" said Mrs. Winston, "you are braver than I. See, you
will be alone. Even Mr. Melcomb will not be there. You will be led on,
and on, till you are completely entangled."

"No, no," answered Mildred. "And for him, I shall rejoice if he is
away. He has had one chance of being generous, he will never have
another. Who is so base as the man who would take a young girl's hand
against her will?"

The sisters continued for some time in consultation, and parted with
an oft-repeated embrace, and many promises of correspondence.

When Mrs. Pendarrel desired Mildred, on learning her attempted refusal
of her suitor, to prepare for an immediate journey to Pendarrel, the
one idea which arose in the young lady's mind was, that she should be
near Trevethlan Castle. Many a train of thought developed itself from
that suggestion, all en