mise of amendment.

"Oh! Julius will see to all that," said Mrs. Poynsett.

"It is a woman's question," returned Cecil.

"Not entirely."

"Fancy a clergyman's wife! It Mrs. Venn had appeared in that way at
Dunstone!"

"You would have left it to Mr. Venn! My dear, the less said the
sooner mended."

Cecil was silenced, but shocked, for she was far too young and
inexperienced to understand that indecorous customs complied with as
a matter of course, do not necessarily denote lack of innate
modesty--far less, how they could be confounded with home
allegiance; and as to Anne, poor Rosamond was, in her eyes, only too
like the ladies who impeded Christiana on her outset.

So her ladyship retreated into languid sleepy dignity towards both
her sisters-in-law; and on Monday evening showed herself, for a
moment, more decolletee, if possible, than before. Mrs. Poynsett
feared lest Julius were weak in this matter; but at night she had a
visit from him.

"Mother," he said, "it will not happen again. Say no more."

"I am only too thankful."

"What do you think settled it? No less than Lady Tyrrell's
admiration."

"What could she have said?"

"I can't make out. Rose was far too indignant to be comprehensible,
when she told me on the way home; but there was something about
adopting the becoming, and a repetition of--of some insolent
praise." And his mother felt his quiver of suppressed wrath. "If
Rose had been what that woman took her for, she would have been
delighted," he continued; "but--"

"It was horrible to her!" said his mother. "And to you. Yes, I
knew it would right itself, and I am glad nothing passed about it
between us."

"So am I; she quite separates you from Cecil and Anne, and indeed
all her anger is with Lady Tyrrell. She will have it there was
malice in inciting her to shock old friends and annoy you--a sort of
attempt to sympathize her into opposition."

"Which had a contrary effect upon a generous nature."

"Exactly! She thinks nothing too bad for that woman, and declares
she is a serpent."

"That's dear Rosamond's anger; but I imagine that when I occur to
Camilla's mind, it is as the obstructive old hag, who once stood in
her way; and so, without any formed designs, whatever she says of me
is coloured by that view."

"Quite possible; and I am afraid the sister is just such another.
She seems quite to belong to Mrs. Duncombe's set. I sat next her at
dinner, and tried to talk to