them in this direct
attack that was made on her own mode of thought.

"Of course, they are a little older than I am," she said, hoping to get
out of the difficulty.

"And therefore, the more entitled to consideration. I think you will
own that they must know what is, and what is not, becoming to a lady."

"Do you mean," said she, hardly able to choke a rising sob, "that
they--have anything--to find fault with in me?"

"I have said nothing as to finding fault, Mary."

"Do they think that I do not dress as I ought to do?"

"Why should you ask such a question as that?"

"I don't know what else I am to understand, George. Of course I will
do anything that you tell me. If you wish me to make any change, I will
make it. But I hope they won't send me messages through you."

"I thought you would have been glad to know that they interested
themselves about you." In answer to this Mary pouted, but her husband
did not see the pout.

"Of course they are anxious that you should become one of them. We are
a very united family. I do not speak now of my elder brother, who is in
a great measure separated from us and is of a different nature. But my
mother, my sisters, and I, have very many opinions in common. We live
together, and have the same way of thinking. Our rank is high, and our
means are small. But to me blood is much more than wealth. We
acknowledge, however, that rank demands many sacrifices, and my sisters
endeavour to make those sacrifices most conscientiously. A woman more
thoroughly devoted to good works than Sarah I have never even read of.
If you will believe this, you will understand what they mean, and what
I mean, when we say that here at Manor Cross we think more of personal
conduct than of rings and jewels. You wish, Mary, to be one of us; do
you not?"

She paused for a moment, and then she answered, "I wish to be always
one with you."

He almost wanted to be angry at this, but it was impossible. "To be one
with me, dearest," he said, "you must be one, also, with them."

"I cannot love them as I do you, George. That, I am sure, is not the
meaning of being married." Then she thought of it all steadily for a
minute, and after that, made a further speech. "And I don't think I can
quite dress like them. I'm sure you would not like it if I did."

As she said this she put her second hand back upon his arm.

He said nothing further on the subject till he had brought her back to
the house, walking along by