‘The stronger at first, the sooner over,’ thought Miss Mohun; but she knew that consolation betraying her comprehension would not be safe.

One further discovery she made, namely, that on Sunday, Alexis, foolish lad, had been so wildly impatient at their having had no notice from Gillian since her return, that he had gone to the garden to explain, as he said, his sister’s non-appearance there, since she was detained by her mother’s illness.  It was the only time he had ever been there, and he had met no one; but Miss Mohun felt a sinking of heart at the foreboding that the mauvaises langues would get hold of it.

The only thing to be decided on was that there must be a suspension of intercourse, at any rate, till Lady Merrifield’s arrival; not in unkindness, but as best for all.  And, indeed, Kalliope had no time to spare from her mother, whose bloated appearance, poor woman, was the effect of long-standing disease.

The daughter’s heart was very full of her, and evidently it would have been a comfort to discuss her condition with this kind friend; but no more delay was possible; and Miss Mohun had to speed home, in a quandary how much or how little about Alexis’s hopeless passion should be communicated to its object, and finally deciding that Gillian had better only be informed that he had been greatly mortified by the rude manner of rejection, but that the act itself proved that she must abstain from all renewal of the intercourse till her parents should return.

But that was not all the worry of the day.  Miss Mohun had still to confront Lady Rotherwood, and, going as soon as the early dinner was over, found the Marchioness resting after an inspection of houses in Rockquay.  She did not like hotels, she said, and she thought the top of the cliff too bleak for Phyllis, so that they must move nearer the sea if the place agreed with her at all, which was doubtful.  Miss Mohun was pretty well convinced that the true objection was the neighbourhood of Beechcroft Cottage.  She said she had come to give some explanation of what had been said to her sister yesterday.

’Oh, my dear Jane, Adeline told me all about it yesterday.  I am very sorry for you to have had such a charge, but what could you expect of girls cast about as they have been, always with a marching regiment?’

’I do not think Mysie has given you any reason to think her ill brought up.’

’A little uncouth at first, but that was all.  Oh, no!  Mysie is a dear little girl.  I should be very glad to have her with Phyllis altogether, and so would Rotherwood.  But she was very young when Sir Jasper retired.’

’And Valetta was younger.  Poor little girl!  She was naughty, but I do not think she understood the harm of what she was doing.’

Lady Rotherwood smiled.

’Perhaps not; but she must have been deeply involved, since she was the one amongst all the guilty to be expelled.’