‘Indeed, papa, I am very sorry I vexed you,’ said Emily.  ’Our illness last autumn—­different things—­I know all has not been quite as it should be; but I hope that in future I shall profit by past experience.’

‘I hope so,’ said Mr. Mohun, ’but I am afraid to trust the management of the family to you any longer.  Your trial is over, and you have failed, merely because you would not exert yourself from wilful indolence and negligence.  You have not attended to any one thing committed to your charge—­you have placed temptation in Esther’s way--and allowed Ada to take up habits which will not be easily corrected.  I should not think myself justified in leaving you in charge any longer, lest worse mischief should ensue.  I wish you to give up the keys to Eleanor for the present.’

Mr. Mohun would perhaps have added something if Emily had shown signs of repentance, or even of sorrow.  The moment was at least as painful to him as to her, and he had prepared himself to expect either hysterical tears, with vows of amendment, or else an argument on her side that she was right and everybody else wrong.  But there was nothing of the kind; Emily neither spoke nor looked; she only carried the tokens of her authority to Eleanor, and left the room.  She thought she knew well enough the cause of her deposition, considered it quite as a matter of course, and departed on purpose to avoid hearing the announcement which she expected to follow.

She was annoyed by finding her sisters in her room, and especially irritated by Jane’s tone, as she eagerly asked, ’Well, what did he say?’

‘Never mind,’ replied Emily, pettishly.

‘Was it about Miss Weston?’ persisted Jane.

‘Not actually, but I saw it was coming,’ said Emily.

‘Ah!’ said Jane, ’I was just telling Lily that she owes all her present favour to her having been Alethea’s bosom friend.’

‘I confess I thought Miss Weston was assuming authority long ago,’ said Emily.

‘Emily, how can you say so?’ cried Lily.  ’How can you be so unjust and ungrateful?  I do not believe this report; but if it should be true, are not these foolish expressions of dislike so many attempts to make yourself undutiful?’

’I have rather more sincerity, more dignity, more attachment to my own mother, than to try to gain favour by affecting what I do not feel,’ said Emily.

‘Rather cutting, Emily,’ said Jane.

‘Do not give that speech an application which Emily did not intend,’ said Lily, sadly.

‘What makes you think I did not intend it?’ said Emily, coldly.

‘Emily!’ exclaimed Lily, starting up, and colouring violently, ’are you thinking what you are saying?’

‘I do not know what you mean,’ replied Emily quietly, in her soft, unchanging voice; ’I only mean that if you can feel satisfied with the new arrangement you are more easily pleased than I am.’

’Only tell me, Emily, do you accuse me of attempting to gain favour in an unworthy manner?’