ude,--most uncourteous,--and,--and,--and unlike a younger woman
to an older one, and an aunt, and all that. I suppose it is because
she hates me."

"Oh, no, Aunt Stanbury!"

"My dear, I suppose it is. Why else should she treat me in such a
way? But I do believe of her that she would rather eat an honest, dry
crust, than dishonest cake and ale."

"She would rather starve than pick up a crumb that was dishonest,"
said Dorothy, fairly bursting out into tears.

"I believe it. I do believe it. There; what more can I say? Clock
House, indeed! What matter what house you live in, so that you can
pay the rent of it honestly?"

"But the rent is paid--honestly," said Dorothy, amidst her sobs.

"It's paid, I don't doubt. I dare say the woman's husband and your
brother see to that among them. Oh, that my boy, Hugh, as he used
to be, should have brought us all to this! But there's no knowing
what they won't do among them. Reform, indeed! Murder, sacrilege,
adultery, treason, atheism;--that's what Reform means; besides every
kind of nastiness under the sun." In which latter category Miss
Stanbury intended especially to include bad printer's ink, and paper
made of straw.

The reader may as well see the letter which was as civil a letter
as ever one woman wrote to another, so that the collection of the
Stanbury correspondence may be made perfect.

The Close, August 6, 186--.

MY DEAR NIECE,

Your letter has not astonished me nearly as much as you
expected it would. I am an older woman than you, and,
though you will not believe it, I have seen more of the
world. I knew that the gentleman would come after the
lady. Such gentlemen always do go after their ladies.
As for yourself, I can see all that you have done, and
pretty nearly hear all that you have said, as plain as a
pike-staff. I do you the credit of believing that the plan
is none of your making. I know who made the plan, and a
very bad plan it is.

As to my former letters and the other man, I understand
all about it. You were very angry that I should accuse you
of having this man at the house; and you were right to be
angry. I respect you for having been angry. But what does
all that say as to his coming,--now that he has come?

If you will consent to take an old woman's advice, get rid
of the whole boiling of them. I say it in firm love and
friendship, for I am,--

Your affectionate aunt,

J