sisters there had been, of course, some discussion on the matter.  It was impossible that it should be allowed to pass without it; but such discussions always resulted in an assertion on the part of Nora that she would not be scolded.  Mrs Trevelyan was very tender with her, and made no attempt to scold her—­tried, at last, simply to console her; but Nora was so continually at work scolding herself, that every word spoken to her on the subject of Mr Glascock’s visit seemed to her to carry with it a rebuke.

But on the second day she herself accosted Priscilla Stanbury.  ’Come into the garden,’ she said, when they two were for a moment alone together; ‘I want to speak to you.’  Priscilla, without answering, folded up her work and put on her hat.  ‘Come down to the green walk,’ said Nora.  ’I was savage to you last night, and I want to beg your pardon.’

‘You were savage,’ said Priscilla, smiling, ’and you shall have my pardon.  Who would not pardon you any offence, if you asked it?’

‘I am so miserable!’ she said.

‘But why?’

’I don’t know.  I can’t tell.  And it is of no use talking about it now, for it is all over.  But I ought not to have been cross to you, and I am very sorry.’

’That does not signify a straw; only so far, that when I have been cross, and have begged a person’s pardon, which I don’t do as often as I ought, I always feel that it begets kindness.  If I could help you in your trouble I would.’

‘You can’t fetch him back again.’

‘You mean Mr Glascock.  Shall I go and try?’

Nora smiled and shook her head.  ’I wonder what he would say if you asked him.  But if he came, I should do the same thing.’

’I do not in the least know what you have done, my dear.  I only see that you mope about, and are more down in the mouth than any one ought to be, unless some great trouble has come.’

‘A great trouble has come.’

’I suppose you have had your choice either to accept your lover or to reject him.’

‘No; I have not had my choice.’

’It seems to me that no one has dictated to you; or, at least, that you have obeyed no dictation.’

‘Of course, I can’t explain it to you.  It is impossible that I should.’

’If you mean that you regret what you have done because you have been false to the man, I can sympathise with you.  No one has ever a right to be false, and if you are repenting a falsehood, I will willingly help you to eat your ashes and to wear your sackcloth.  But if you are repenting a truth—­’

‘I am.’

’Then you must eat your ashes by yourself, for me; and I do not think that you will ever be able to digest them.’

‘I do not want anybody to help me,’ said Nora proudly.

’Nobody can help you, if I understand the matter rightly.  You have got to get the better of your own covetousness and evil desires, and you are in the fair way to get the better of them if you have already refused to be this man’s wife because you could not bring yourself to commit the sin of marrying him when you did not love him.  I suppose that is about the truth of it; and indeed, indeed, I do sympathise with you.  If you have done that, though it is no more than the plainest duty, I will love you for it.  One finds so few people that will do any duty that taxes their self-indulgence.’