such as that of poor Lily leave the heart sore at every point, and compel the sufferer to be ever in fear of new wounds.  Lily bore her cross bravely and well; but not the less did it weigh heavily upon her at every turn because she had the strength to walk as though she did not bear it.  Nothing happened to her, or in her presence, that did not in some way connect itself with her misery.  Her uncle was going over to meet John Eames at Lord De Guest’s.  Of course the men there would talk about her, and all such talking was an injury to her.

The afternoon of that day did not pass away brightly.  As long as the servants were in the room the dinner went on much as other dinners.  At such times a certain amount of hypocrisy must always be practised in closely domestic circles.  At mixed dinner-parties people can talk before Richard and William the same words that they would use if Richard and William were not there.  People so mixed do not talk together their inward home thoughts.  But when close friends are together, a little conscious reticence is practised till the door is tiled.  At such a meeting as this that conscious reticence was of service, and created an effect which was salutary.  When the door was tiled, and when the servants were gone, how could they be merry together?  By what mirth should the beards be made to wag on that Christmas Day?

“My father has been up in town,” said Bernard.  “He was with Lord De Guest at Pawkins’s.”

“Why didn’t you go and see him?” asked Mrs Dale.

“Well, I don’t know.  He did not seem to wish it.  I shall go down to Torquay in February.  I must be up in London you know, in a fortnight, for good.”  Then they were all silent again for a few minutes.  If Bernard could have owned the truth, he would have acknowledged that he had not gone up to London, because he did not yet know how to treat Crosbie when he should meet him.  His thoughts on this matter threw some sort of shadow across poor Lily’s mind, making her feel that her wound was again opened.

“I want him to give up his profession altogether,” said the squire, speaking firmly and slowly.  “It would be better, I think, for both of us that he should do so.”

“Would it be wise at his time of life,” said Mrs Dale, “and when he has been doing so well?”

“I think it would be wise.  If he were my son it would be thought better that he should live here upon the property, among the people who are to become his tenants, than remain up in London, or perhaps be sent to India.  He has one profession as the heir of this place, and that, I think, should be enough.”

“I should have but an idle life of it down here,” said Bernard.

“That would be your own fault.  But if you did as I would have you, your life would not be idle.”  In this he was alluding to Bernard’s proposed marriage, but as to that nothing further could be said in Bell’s presence.  Bell understood it all, and sat quite silent, with demure countenance;—­perhaps even with something of sternness in her face.