‘Then you consider my opinion as utterly worthless,’ cried Helen, losing all command of temper, which indeed she had preserved longer than could have been expected.  ’I might have known it; you never care for one word I say.  You will repent it at last, I know you will.’

‘It is not that I never care for what you say, Helen,’ said Elizabeth, ’it is only when you give me Dykelands opinions instead of your own, and talk of what you do not understand.  I suppose no one has any objection to a walk, at least.  Shall we get ready?’

Everyone consented, and they went to prepare.  It should be said, in excuse for Elizabeth, that both she and Helen had been absent from home at the time of the establishment of the Mechanics’ Institute at Abbeychurch, so that they had not known of their father’s opposition to it.  Helen, who, when at Dykelands, had been nearer the manufacturing districts, had heard more of the follies and mischiefs committed by some of the favourers of these institutions.  Unfortunately, however, her temper had prevented her from reasoning calmly, and Elizabeth had wilfully blinded herself, and shut her ears to conviction, being determined to follow her own course.  Anne, who had always lived at Merton Hall, excepting two months of each year, which she spent in London, knew nothing of country town cabals, and thinking the lecture was of the same nature as those she had heard in London, asked no questions, as she had not heard the debate between Elizabeth and Helen.  Katherine, however, hesitated to go without the permission of her father and mother; or, in other words, she was afraid they would reprove her, and she was not unwilling to listen to Helen’s representations on the subject, while they were putting on their bonnets.

‘It is not only,’ said Helen, ’that we are sure that it is not right to go anywhere without leave from Papa or Mamma, but that I know that these Mechanics’ Institutes are part of a system of—­’

‘Oh yes, I know,’ said Katherine, ’of Chartism, and Socialism, and all that is horrible.  I cannot imagine how Lizzie can think of going.’

‘Then you will not go,’ said Helen.

‘Oh, I do not know,’ said Katherine; ’it will seem so odd and so particular if Anne and Lizzie and the Hazlebys go, and we do not.  It would be like setting ourselves up against our elders.’

‘You do not always think much of that, Kate,’ said Helen; ’besides, if our eldest sister thinks proper to do wrong, I do not see that we are forced to do so too.’

‘Well, but Lizzie said it was not wrong, and she is the eldest,’ argued Katherine.

’Lizzie said it was not wrong, that she might have her own way, and contradict me,’ said Helen.

‘We shall see what Anne says,’ said Katherine; ’but if they go, I must, you know.  It was to me that Mrs. Turner gave the invitation, and she and Willie would think it so odd to see the others without me; and Mr. Mills too, he said so very politely that he hoped that he should be honoured with my presence and Harriet’s, it would be an additional stimulus to his exertions, he said.’