were addressed to himself as to have found himself compelled to leave his office two hours before the proper time. The three letters were handed together by her uncle to

treet, Ja

AR DO

might have been wished, and they all think it will be better that she and Lucy should change places. I chiefly write to give my assent. Your sister will no doubt write to you. I may as well mention to you, shoul

sinc

TRI

the importance was quite as great to Ayala. She had been allowed to go up alone into her own room. The letters were of such a nat

perti, Rom

R REGI

rd against dear Ayala - only she does not suit. It will occur sometimes that people who are most attached to each other do not suit. So it has been with dear Ayala. She is not happy with us. She h

uggest that there should be a change. I am sure you will give me credit for a desire to do the best I can for both the poor dear girls. I did think that this might be be

me from hot temper and not from a bad heart. Perhaps I had better tell you the truth. Tom has admired her. She has behaved very well; but she could not bear to be spoken to, and

r plan. Ayala also will write to her sister. But pray tell her from me that I will love her very dearly if she will come to

unhappy if I did not have one of poor dear Egbert's girls with me. Only I do think that Lucy would be the

nce. If a thing like this is to be done it is so much better for all parties that it should be done quickly

tionate sister,

Lucy, as it did not speak with so much authority as that from Sir Thomas. What Sir Thomas said would surely be done; whereas Aunt Emmeline was only a woman

y DEAREST , D

me and be the princess, and I am to go and be the milkmaid at home. I am quite content that it should

words were uttered that I had gone and done for myself. But I am not a bit sorry, as you will come in my place. Augusta will very soon be gone now, and Aunt Emmeline is no

orrible things to me. And then he wrote me a letter! Oh dear! I took the letter to Aunt Emmeline, and that made the quarrel. She said that I had - encouraged him! Oh, Lucy, if you will think of that! I was so angry that I said ever so much to her -

n sit still and mend sheets. [Poor Ayala, how little she knew herself!] And you will make a beautiful grand lady, quiescent and dignified as a grand lady

to you all. Give my love to Aunt Dosett. If she will consent to re

fectionate s

ight be justified in hating without shame. There had been to her an absence of intellectual charm in the habits and manners of Kingsbury Crescent which she had regarded as unfortunate and depressing. There had been no thought of art delights. No one read poetry. No one heard music. No one looked at pictures. A sheet to be darned was the one thing of greatest importance. The due development of a leg of mutton, the stretching of a pound of butter, the best way of repressing the washerwoman's bills - these had been the matters of interest. And they had not been made the less irritating to her by her

as well as she could during that moment in which he handed to her the letter, she imagined that he intended to make no great objection. Her aunt disliked her. She was sure that her aunt disliked her in spite of the partnership. Only that there was one other view of the case - ho

ot manifest enough that Ayala knew nothing of the life of which she was speaking? And would she, Lucy, be able to enjoy the glories of Glenbogie while she thought that Ayala was eating out her heart in the sad companionship of Kingsbury C

ow discussed with the woman whom she did not love - this matter that was so dreadful to herself in all its bearings, and so dreadful to one for whom she would willingly s

us," said L

he two letters, keeping that from Ayala to herself, and she sat perfectly still while her

, and perhaps she will change her m

omas has ag

He says he has no complaint to make against Ayala. I think it is

c, that they who only half know them expect no trait of tenderness, think that features so little alluring cannot be compatible with softness. Lucy had acknowledged her Aunt Dosett to be good, but believed her to be incapable of being touched. But

" said Luc

r - perhaps kinder th

ful. I know it. But I will do better now, Au

rful, and you will have

made to come and go at their bidd

f Ayala. You see what your unc

te mo

to your Aunt Emmeline, Sir Thomas will do for you as he has done for Ayala. Dear Lucy, it is not that I want to send you away." Then for the first time Lucy put her arm round her aunt's neck. "But it had better be as is proposed,

the least," said

see what

not hers. Why shou

no good kicking against the pricks, my dear. He is his f

hing because a young man like that will go on making himself disagreeable. They have no rig

feel

Ayala and I are only girls, we ought not to be changed about as though we were hors

spoken to her aun

y it to me merely because some horrid man would come and speak to me?" Then there came a slight pang of conscience as she remembered Isadore Ha

pert; and, though it might be true that Ayala had not encouraged Tom, there was no knowing what might grow out of such a propensity on Tom's part. And then it could not be pleasant to Lady Tringle or to himself that their son should be banished out of their house. When something was hinted as to the injustice of this, Sir Thomas endeavoured to put all that right by declaring that, if Lady Tringle's wishes could be attended to in this matter, provision would be made for the two girl

yala, looked upon the thing as settled. Ayala, who under these circumstances was living on affectionate terms with all the Tringles, exc

wo, Ayala, it

hen. You must come ove

e shall be s

t go back with m

all, m

tting in the drawing-room, and Augusta, with most affectionate confidence, was singing to her all the praises of Mr Tr