appearance she could not be compared with her sister.  Dr. Phillips said he must have her examined about her cough, for it should not be trifled with.  He hoped that it had not been too long neglected.  All these remarks, coming immediately after his refusal by the object of them, made Brandon somewhat reconciled to the circumstance, though if he had had a kinder answer, they would have made no difference in his feelings towards Elsie, but would probably have made him love her all the more.

When Harriett Phillips spoke in warm praise of Miss Melville’s excellent understanding, and her fine, open, intelligent, expression of countenance, he thought he never saw her own countenance look so open or so attractive.  He felt disposed to be consoled, and he was very sure that she was quite willing to console him.

Jane saw much amiss with her darling sister at the first glance, but hoped that the change, and Dr. Phillips’s advice, which he had said would be at her service, and her own society, would benefit Elsie greatly.

Elsie did not muster courage to tell Jane of the incident of the railway journey till they had retired for the night.

“You know I could not answer otherwise, Jane; I did not love him; do not be angry with me,” said Elsie, apologetically.

“Angry with you my dear child!  No, I honour you,” said Jane.

“You see Jane, I have been so unhappy, so ill, and so low-spirited, that I could easily have snatched at an escape from this dreary life, and said I would marry him; but he would have been so disappointed when he came to know me.”

“You do not love him now, Elsie, but could you not have learned to love him?  It is not to be supposed that a girl has a ready-made attachment to be given to the first man who sees fit to ask her; she must take a little time.”

“But, Jane, though he has been very kind to us, you know—­you remember Peggy, and what she said about him?”

Jane nodded assent.

“I know I have been rude about it.  I ought to have said much that I felt, but when girls say such things they either give more pain afterwards, or get committed.  Oh!  Jane, tell me again that I have been right.”

“Right? yes,” said Jane, thoughtfully.  “Perhaps you ought to have a man of more fixed principles, if he could he had.  But Elsie, my darling, it is not who we ought to have in the world, but who will have us; reflect that you may never have such an offer, or, indeed, another offer of any kind, again.  I do not mean to bias your judgment, my own dear sister.  Only think—­he has, as you say, been very kind.  He is not faultless; but who is?  As for Peggy’s story, that was many years ago; and, so far as I can judge from our friends here, he bears an excellent character.  We should not condemn a man for life on account of something wrong done, or, as in this case, only purposed, when very young, and in circumstances of temptation which you and I, perhaps, can scarcely appreciate.  He took Peggy’s first answer in a right spirit, and you can see how he respects her.  All I have seen of him since I came to London, has disposed me to think favourably of him.  His temper is the finest in the world, I think.”