Violet did tell him about it afterwards; a curtailed and selected version, but one eminently suitable to the purpose.  On hearing it he was justly angry with Julia’s heartless selfishness in keeping her legacy to herself.  He was also shocked at her determination to go and live a farm labourer’s life in a farm labourer’s cottage.  He was truly sorry for Mrs. Polkington, between whom and himself there existed a mutual affection and admiration.  He said it was bitterly hard that her one remaining daughter should treat her thus; that it was barbarous, impossible, that a woman of her age, tastes, refinement and gifts should be compelled to lead such a life as was proposed.  In fact he could not and would not permit it; he hoped that she would make her home at his rectory; nay, he insisted upon it; both Violet and himself would not take a refusal; she must and should come to them.

[Illustration:  “A wonderful woman”]

Julia smiled her approval; when things were worked up to this end; she would have liked to clap her applause, it was so well done.  Mrs. Polkington and Violet were so admirable, they were already almost convinced of all they said; in two days they would believe it quite as much as Mr. Ponsonby did now.  She did not in the least mind having to appear as the ungrateful daughter; it fitted in so beautifully with Violet’s arrangement.  And really the arrangement was very good; the utilitarian feelings of the family did not suffer at wrenches and splits as did more tender ones; no one would object much to an advantageous division.  And most advantageous it certainly was; the cottage household would go better without Mrs. Polkington and she would be far happier at the rectory.  She would not make any trouble there; rather, she would give her son-in-law cause to be glad of her coming; there would be scope for her there, and she would possibly develop better than she had ever had a chance of doing before.

So everything was decided.  The house in East Street was to be given up, and most of its contents sold; as Julia’s cottage was furnished already with Aunt Jane’s things, she need only take a few extras from the home.  The debts were to be paid as far as possible now, and the small income was to be divided; part was to go as pin money to Mrs. Polkington, the main part of the remainder to go to the debts, and a very small modicum to come with the Captain to the cottage.

Julia was quite satisfied, and let it be apparent.  This, with her obvious cheerfulness, rather incensed Violet, who regarded the sale of their effects as rather a disgrace, and Julia’s plans for the future, as a great one.

“You ought to be ashamed of yourself,” she told her younger sister, just before she left Marbridge.  “I am positively ashamed to think you belong to us.  It will be nice to meet Norfolk people at the Palace or somewhere, who have seen you tending your pigs and doing your washing.  It is such an unusual name; I can quite fancy some one being introduced to mother and thinking it odd that her name should be the same as some dirty cottage people.”