t
poor Lena has no notion of economizing--how should she? I am afraid
there is no blinking it, that, dear children as they both are,
nothing but wretchedness could result from their corning together;
and thus I have been extremely sorry to find that the affair has
been renewed."

"It was not an unnatural result of their meeting again."

"Ah! there I was to blame again; but no one can judge whether an
attachment be real between such children. I thought, too, that
Frank would be gone out into the world, and I confess I did not
expect to find that he had absolutely addressed her, and kept it
secret. That is what my poor father feels so much. Eleonora is his
special darling, and he says he could have overlooked anything but
the concealment."

Maternal affection assumed the defensive; and, though the idea of
concealment on the part of one of her sons was a shock, Mrs.
Poynsett made no betrayal of herself, merely asking, "How did it
come to light?"

"I extorted the confession. I think I was justified, standing in a
mother's position, as I do. I knew my vigilance had been eluded,
and that your son had walked home with her after the skating; and
you know very well how transparent young things are."

The skating! The mother at once understood that Frank was only
postponing the explanation till after his examination; and besides,
she had never been ignorant of his attachment, and could not regard
any display thereof more or less as deception towards herself. The
very fact that Lady Tyrrell was trying to prejudice her beforehand,
so as to deprive him of the grace of taking the initiative towards
his own mother, enlisted her feelings in his defence, so she coldly
answered, "I am sorry if Sir Harry Vivian thinks himself unfairly
treated; but I should have thought my son's feelings had been as
well known in the one family as in the other."

"But, _dear_ Mrs. Poynsett," exclaimed Lady Tyrrell, "I am sure you
never encouraged them. I am quite enough aware--whatever I may once
have been--of the unfortunate contrast between our respective
families."

Certainly there was no connection Mrs. Poynsett less wished to
encourage; yet she could not endure to play into Camilla' hands, and
made reply, "There are many matters in which young men must judge
for themselves. I have only once see Miss Vivian, and have no means
of estimating my son's chance of happiness with her."

Her impenetrability ruffled Lady Tyrrell; but the a