’Nothing! no, that is not true.  Tell me, Lily.  You have been disconsolate ever since I came home, and I will not let it go on so.  No answer?  Then am I to suppose that these new pearlins are the cause of her sorrow?  Come, Lily, be like yourself, and speak.  More tears!  Here, drink this water, be yourself again, or I shall be angry and vexed.  Now then, that is right:  make an effort, and tell me.’

‘There is nothing to tell,’ said Lily; ’only you are very kind—­I do not know what is the matter with me—­only I have been very foolish of late—­and everything makes me cry.’

’My poor child, I knew you had not been well.  They do not know how to take care of you, Lily, and I shall take you in hand.  I am going to order the horses, and we will have a gallop over the Downs, and put a little colour into your cheeks.’

’No, no, thank you, Claude, I cannot come, indeed I cannot, I have this work, which must be done to-day.’

’At work at your finery instead of coming out!  You must be altered, indeed, Lily.’

‘It is not for myself,’ said Lily, ’but I promised Emily she should have it ready to wear to-morrow.’

‘Emily, oh?  So she is making a slave of you?’

’No, no, it was a voluntary promise.  She does not care about it, only she would be disappointed, and I have promised.’

‘I hate promises!’ said Claude.  ’Well, what must be, must be, so I will resign myself to this promise of yours, only do not make such another.  Well, but that was not all; you were not crying about that fine green thing, were you?’

‘Oh, no!’ said Lily, smiling, as now she could smile again.

‘What then?  I will know, Lily.’

‘I was only vexed at something about the children.’

‘Then what was it?’

’It was only that Ada was idle at her lessons; I told her to learn a verb as a punishment, she went to Emily, and, somehow or other, Emily did not find out the exact facts, excused her, and took her to Raynham.  I was vexed, because I am sure it does Ada harm, and Emily did not understand what I said afterwards; I am sure she thought me unjust.’

‘How came she not to be present?’

’Emily does not often sit in the schoolroom in the morning, since she has been about that large drawing.’

’So you are governess as well as ladies’-maid, are you, Lily?  What else?  Housekeeper, I suppose, as I see you have all the weekly bills on your desk.  Why, Lily, this is perfectly philanthropic of you.  You are exemplifying the rule of love in a majestic manner.  Crying again!  Water lily once more?’

Lily looked up, and smiled; ’Claude, how can you talk of that old, silly, nay, wicked nonsense of my principle.  I was wise above what was written, and I have my punishment in the wreck which my “frenzy of spirit and folly of tongue” have wrought.  The unchristened child, Agnes’s death, the confusion of this house, all are owing to my hateful principle.  I see the folly of it now, but Emily has taken it up, and acts upon it in everything.  I do struggle against it a little; but I cannot blame any one, I can do no good, it is all owing to me.  We have betrayed papa’s confidence; if he does not see it now it will all come upon him when Eleanor comes home, and what is to become of us?  How it will grieve him to see that we cannot be trusted!’