What? have you heard from Maurice?’

‘No; I have been at Fairmead.’

You!  To-day!  How was Winifred?’

‘Better—­I believe.’

‘How does she like the governess?’

‘I did not hear.’

Gradually something oozed out about Lucy having been happy and valuable, and after Sophy had gone to bed, he inquired how the courtship was going on?

‘Worse than ever,’ Albinia said.

‘I suppose it must end in this?’

‘In what!’

’If there is no more satisfactory arrangement, I suppose we must receive Mrs. Meadows.’

If Albinia could but have heard what a scolding her brother was undergoing from his vivacious wife!

’As if poor Albinia had not enough on her hands!  Of all inmates in the world!  When Mr. Kendal himself did not like it!  Well!  Maurice would certainly have advised Sinbad to request the honour of taking the Old Man of the Sea for a promenade a cheval.  There was an end of Albinia.  There would never be any room in her house, and she would never be able to come from home.  And after having seen her worked to death, he to advise—­’

’I did not advise, I only listened.  What he came for was to silence his conscience and his wife by saying, “Your brother thinks it out of the question.”  Now to this my conscience would not consent.’

‘More shame for it, then!’

’I could not say I thought these two people’s happiness should be sacrificed, or the poor old woman left desolate.  Albinia has spirits and energy for a worse infliction, and Edmund Kendal himself is the better for every shock to his secluded habits.  If it is a step I would never dare advise, still less would I dare dissuade.’

‘Well!  I thought Mr. Kendal at least had more sense.’

’Ay, nothing is so provoking as to see others more unselfish than ourselves.’

‘All I have to say,’ concluded Mrs. Ferrars, walking off, ’is, I wish there was a law against people going and marrying two wives.’

Albinia was in no haste to profit by her husband’s consent to her proposal.  The more she revolved it, the more she foresaw the discomfort for all parties.  She made every effort to devise the ‘more satisfactory arrangement,’ but nothing would occur.  The Drurys would not help, and the poor old lady could not be left alone.  Her maid Betty, who had become necessary to her comfort, was not a trustworthy person, and could not be relied on, either for honesty, or for not leaving her mistress too long alone; and when the notion was broached of boarding Mrs. Meadows with some family in the place, the conviction arose, that when she had grandchildren, there was no reason for leaving her to strangers.

Finally, the proposal was made, and as instantly rejected by Maria.  It was very kind, but her mother could never be happy at Willow Lawn, never; and the tone betrayed some injury at such a thing being thought possible.  But just as the Kendals had begun to rejoice at having cleared their conscience at so slight a cost, Captain Pringle and Miss Meadows made their appearance, and Maria presently requested that Mrs. Kendal would allow her to say a few words.