When Isabel spoke again, it was to ask further particulars; and when he had told all, she found solace in exclaiming at the folly and injustice of James’s enemies, until the sense of fairness obliged him to say, ’I wish the right and the wrong ever were fairly divided in this world; and yet perhaps it is best as it is:  the grain of right on either side may save the sin from being a presumptuous one.’

’It would be hard to find the one grain of right on the part of the Ramsbotham cabal.’

‘Perhaps you would not think so, if you were a boy’s mother.’

‘Oh!’ cried Isabel, with tears in her eyes, ’if he thought he had been too hasty, he always made such reparation that only cowards could help being touched.  I’m sure they deserved it, and much more.’

‘No doubt,’ said Louis; ‘but, alas! if all had their deserts—­’

‘Then you really think he was too severe?’

’I think his constitutional character was hardly fit for so trying a post, and that his family and school troubles reacted upon each other.’

’You mean Clara’s conduct; and dear grandmamma—­oh! if she could but have stayed with us!  If you could have seen how haggard and grieved he came home from Cheveleigh!  I do not think he has been quite the same ever since.’

‘And No. 5 has never been the same,’ said Louis.

‘Tell me,’ said Isabel, suddenly, ‘are we very poor indeed?’

’I fear so, Isabel.  Till James can find some employment, I fear there is a stern struggle with poverty before you.’

‘Does that mean living as the Faithfulls do?’

‘Yes, I think your means will be nearly the same as theirs.’

‘Fitzjocelyn,’ said Isabel, after a long pause, ’I see what you have been implying all this time, and I have been feeling it too.  I have been absorbed in my own pursuits, and not paid attention enough to details of management, and so I have helped to fret and vex my husband.  You all think my habits an additional evil in this trial.’

‘James has never said a word of the kind,’ cried Louis.

’I know he has not; but I ought to have opened my eyes to it long ago, and I thank you for helping me.  There—­will you take that manuscript, and keep it out of my way?  It has been a great tempter to me.  It is finished now, and it might bring in something.  But I can have only one thought now—­how to make James happier and more at ease.’

‘Then, Isabel, I don’t think your misfortunes will be misfortunes.’

‘To suffer for right principles should give strength for anything,’ said Isabel.  ’Think what many better women than I have had to endure, when they have had to be ashamed of their husband, not proud of him!  Now, I do hope and trust that God will help us, and carry us and the children through with it!’

Louis felt that in this frame she was truly fit to cheer and sustain James.  How she might endure the actual struggle with penury, he dared not imagine; at present he could only be carried along by her lofty composure.