‘Only,’ growled Sophy, in her hoarse boy’s voice, ’Lucy said mamma said she would not call on Mrs. Osborn unless you ordered her, and when you did, she cried and flew into a tremendous passion.’

‘Sophy, what a story,’ exclaimed Lucy, but Gilbert was ready to corroborate his younger sister’s report.

’You know Lucy too well to attach any importance to her misrepresentations,’ said Mr. Kendal, turning to Mrs. Meadows, ’but I know not what amends she can make for this most unprovoked slander.  Speak, Lucy, have you no apology to make?’

For Lucy, in self-defence, had begun to cry, and her grandmother seemed much disposed to do the same.  Miss Meadows had tears in her eyes, and incoherencies on her lips.  The distress drove away all Albinia’s inclination to laugh, and clasping her two hands over her husband’s arm, she said, ’Don’t, Edmund, it is only a misunderstanding of what really happened.  I did have a silly fit, you know, so it is my fault.’

‘I cannot forgive for you as you do for yourself,’ said Mr. Kendal, with a look that was precious to her, though it might have given a pang to the Meadowses.  ’I did not imagine that my daughter could be so lost to the sense of your kindness and forbearance.  Have you nothing to say, Lucy?’

‘Poor child! she cannot speak,’ said her grandmother.  ’You see she is very sorry, and Mrs. Kendal is too kind to wish to say any more about it.’

‘Go home at once, Lucy,’ said her father.  ’Perhaps solitude may bring you to a better state of feeling.  Go!’

Direct resistance to Mr. Kendal was never thought of, and Lucy turned to go.  Her aunt chose to accompany her, and though this was a decided relief to the company she left, it was not likely to be the best thing for the young lady herself.

Mr. Kendal gave his arm to Mrs. Meadows, saying gravely that Lucy must not be encouraged in her habit of gossiping and inaccuracy.  Mrs. Meadows quite agreed with him, it was a very bad habit for a girl, she was very sorry for it, she wished she could have attended to the dear children better, but she was sure dear Mrs. Kendal would make them everything desirable.  She only hoped that she would remember their disadvantages, have patience, and not recollect this against poor Lucy.

The warm indignation and championship of her husband and his son were what Albinia chiefly wished to recollect; but it was impossible to free herself from a sense of pain and injury in the knowledge that she lived with a spy who would exaggerate and colour every careless word.

Mr. Kendal returned to the subject as they walked home.

’I hope you will talk seriously to Lucy about her intolerable gossiping,’ he said.  ’There is no safety in mentioning any subject before her; and Maria Meadows makes her worse.  Some stop must be put to it.’

‘I should like to wait till next time,’ said Albinia.

‘What do you mean?’