‘Indeed not, mamma,’ said Venetia.  ’I hope we shall never leave home again.’

‘You must come and see me some day,’ said the Bishop; then turning to George, whom he was glad to find here, he addressed him in a hearty tone, and expressed his delight at again meeting him.

Insensibly to all parties this arrival of the good Masham exercised a beneficial influence on their spirits.  They could sympathise with his cheerfulness, because they were convinced that he sympathised with their sorrow.  His interesting conversation withdrew their minds from the painful subject on which they were always musing.  It seemed profanation to either of the three mourners when they were together alone, to indulge in any topic but the absorbing one, and their utmost effort was to speak of the past with composure; but they all felt relieved, though at first unconsciously, when one, whose interest in their feelings could not be doubted, gave the signal of withdrawing their reflections from vicissitudes which it was useless to deplore.  Even the social forms which the presence of a guest rendered indispensable, and the exercise of the courtesies of hospitality, contributed to this result.  They withdrew their minds from the past.  And the worthy Bishop, whose tact was as eminent as his good humour and benevolence, evincing as much delicacy of feeling as cheerfulness of temper, a very few days had elapsed before each of his companions was aware that his presence had contributed to their increased content.

‘You have not been to the abbey yet, Lord Cadurcis,’ said Masham to him one day, as they were sitting together after dinner, the ladies having retired.  ‘You should go.’

‘I have been unwilling to leave them,’ said George, ’and I could scarcely expect them to accompany me.  It is a visit that must revive painful recollections.’

‘We must not dwell on the past,’ said Masham; ’we must think only of the future.’

‘Venetia has no future, I fear,’ said Lord Cadurcis.

‘Why not?’ said Masham; ’she is yet a girl, and with a prospect of a long life.  She must have a future, and I hope, and I believe, it will yet be a happy one.’

‘Alas!’ said Lord Cadurcis, ’no one can form an idea of the attachment that subsisted between Plantagenet and Venetia.  They were not common feelings, or the feelings of common minds, my dear lord.’

‘No one knew them both better than I did,’ said Masham, ’not even yourself:  they were my children.’

‘I feel that,’ said George, ’and therefore it is a pleasure to us all to see you, and to speak with you.’

‘But we must look for consolation,’ said Masham; ’to deplore is fruitless.  If we live, we must struggle to live happily.  To tell you the truth, though their immediate return to Cherbury was inevitable, and their residence here for a time is scarcely to be deprecated, I still hope they will not bury themselves here.  For my part, after the necessary interval, I wish to see Venetia once more in the world.’