She was evidently far too much shaken to be fit for the intended expedition, even if her father had not decreed that she should be deprived of it.  Albinia had never seen him so much incensed, for nothing makes a man so angry as to have been alarmed; and he was doubly annoyed when he found that she thought Sophy too unwell to be left, as he intended, to solitary confinement.

He would gladly have given up the visit, for his repugnance to society was in full force on the eve of a party; but Albinia, by representing that it would be wrong to disappoint Colonel Bury, and very hard on the unoffending Gilbert and Lucy, succeeded in prevailing on him to accept his melancholy destiny, and to allow her to remain at home with Sophy and the baby—­one of the greatest sacrifices he or she had yet made.  He was exceedingly vexed, and therefore the less disposed to be lenient.  The more Albinia told him of Sophy’s unhappiness, the more he hoped it would do her good, and he could not be induced to see her, nor to send her any message of forgiveness, for in truth it was less the baby’s accident that he resented, than the eighteen months of surly resistance to the baby’s mother, and at present he was more unrelenting than the generous, forgiving spirit of his wife could understand, though she tried to believe it manly severity and firmness.

‘It would be time to pardon,’ he said, ‘when pardon was asked.’

And Albinia could not say that it had been asked, except by misery.

‘She has the best advocate in you,’ said Mr. Kendal, affectionately, ’and if there be any feeling in her, such forbearance cannot fail to bring it out.  I am more grieved than I can tell you at your present disappointment, but it shall not happen again.  If you can bring her to a better mind, I shall be the more satisfied in sending her from home.’

‘Edmund! you do not think of it!’

’My mind is made up.  Do you think I have not watched your patient care, and the manner in which it has been repaid?  You have sufficient occupation without being the slave of those children’s misconduct.’

’Sophy would be miserable.  Oh! you must not!  She is the last girl in the world fit to be sent to school.’

’I will not have you made miserable at home.  This has been a long trial, and nothing has softened her.’

‘Suppose this was the very thing.’

’If it were, what is past should not go unrequited, and the change will teach her what she has rejected.  Hush, dearest, it is not that I do not think that you have done all for her that tenderness or good sense could devise, but your time is too much occupied, and I cannot see you overtasked by this poor child’s headstrong temper.  It is decided, Albinia; say no more.’