n spite of the
wickedness of her opinions she did not mean to be idle. But Mrs.
Dosett, in her wrath, snatched the work from her niece's hands
and carried it out of the room, thus declaring that not even a
pillow-case in her house should owe a stitch to the hands of a girl
so ungrateful and so blasphemous.

The wrath wore off soon. Ayala, though not contrite was meek, and
walked home with her aunt on the following morning, patiently
carrying a pound of butter, six eggs, and a small lump of bacon in a
basket. After that the pillow-case was recommitted to her. But there
still was left evidence enough that the girl's mind had been upset by
the luxuries of Brook Street,--evidence to which Aunt Margaret paid
very much attention, insisting upon it in her colloquies with her
husband. "I think that a little amusement is good for young people,"
said Uncle Reginald, weakly.

"And for old people too. No doubt about it, if they can get it so as
not to do them any harm at the same time. Nothing can be good for a
young woman which unfits her for that state of life to which it has
pleased God to call her. Ayala has to live with us. No doubt there
was a struggle when she first came from your sister, Lady Tringle,
but she made it gallantly, and I gave her great credit. She was just
falling into a quiet mode of life when there came this invitation
from the Marchesa Baldoni. Now she has come back quite an altered
person, and the struggle has to be made all over again." Uncle
Reginald again expressed his opinion that young people ought to have
a little amusement, but he was not strong enough to insist very much
upon his theory. It certainly, however, was true that Ayala, though
she still struggled, had been very much disturbed by the visit.

Then came the invitation to Stalham. There was a very pretty note
from Lady Albury to Ayala herself, saying how much pleasure she would
have in seeing Miss Dormer at her house, where Ayala's old friends
the Marchesa and Nina were then staying. This was accompanied by a
long letter from Nina herself, in which all the charms of Stalham,
including Mr. Ponsonby and lawn tennis, were set forth at full
length. Ayala had already heard much about Stalham and the Alburys
from her friend Nina, who had hinted in a whisper that such an
invitation as this might perhaps be forthcoming. She was ready enough
for the visit, having looked through her wardrobe, and resolved that
things which had been good enough for