’He could neither help saving Maurice, nor speaking comfort and support when he found me exhausted and sinking.  It was I who was the foolish creature—­I hate myself!  Well, you know how it has been—­I liked to believe it was the thing—­I knew he cared less for me than—­but I thought it was always so between men and women, and that I would not have petty distrusts.  But when she came, I saw what the true—­true feeling is—­I saw that he felt when she came into the room—­I saw how he heard her words and missed mine—­I saw—­’ Sophy collected herself, and spoke quietly and distinctly, ’I saw his love, and that it had never been for me.’

There was a pause; Albinia could not bear to look, speak, or move.  Sophy’s words carried conviction that swept away her sand castle.

‘Now, mamma,’ said Sophy, earnestly, ’you own that he has not been false or fickle.’

’If he has not, he has disregarded the choicest jewel that lay in his way,’ said Albinia with some sharpness.

‘But he has not been that,’ persisted Sophy.

‘Well—­no; I suppose not.’

‘And no one can be less to blame than Genevieve.’

‘Little flirt, I’ve no patience with her.’

‘She can’t help her manners,’ repeated Sophy, ’I feel them so much more charming than mine every moment.  She will make him so happy.’

’What are you talking of, Sophy?  He must be mad if he is in earnest.  A man of his family pride!  His father will never listen to it for a moment.’

‘I don’t know what his father may do,’ said Sophy; ’but I know what I pray and entreat we may do, and that is, do our utmost to make this come to good.’

‘Sophy, don’t ask it.  I could not, I know you could not.’

‘There is no loss of esteem.  I honour him as I always did,’ said Sophy.  ’Yes, the more since I see it was all for papa and the right, all unselfish, on that 5th of November.  Some day I shall have worn out the selfishness.’

She kept her hand tightly pressed on her heart as she spoke, and Albinia exclaimed, ’You shall not see it; you overrate your strength; it is my business to prevent you!’

‘Think, mamma,’ said Sophy, rising in her earnestness.  ’Here is a homeless orphan, whom you have taught to love you, whom papa has brought here as to a home, and for Gilbert’s sake.  Is it fair—­ innocent, exemplary as she is—­to turn against her because she is engaging and I am not, to cut her off from us, drive her away to the first situation that offers, be it what it may, and with that thought aching and throbbing in her heart?  Oh, mamma! would that be mercy or justice?’

’You are not asking to have it encouraged in the very house with you?’

‘I do not see how else it is to be,’ said Sophy.

’Let him go after her, if there’s anything in it but Irish folly and French coquetry—­’

’How, mamma?  Where?  When she is a governess in some strange place?  How could he leave his business?  How could she attend to him?  Oh, mamma! you used to be kind:  how can you wish to put two people you love so much to such misery?’