"And now neither of you will be warped. It is so very strange in my
mother, generally the kindest, most open-hearted woman in the world,
to distrust and bear a grudge against them all for the son's
dissipation--just as if that affected the ladies of a family!"

"I did not think it was entirely on his account," said Rosamond.

"Old stories of flirtation!" said Frank, scornfully; "but what are
they to be cast up against a woman in her widowhood? It is so
utterly unlike mother, I can't understand it."

"Would not the natural conclusion be that she knew more, and had her
reasons?"

"I tell you, Rosamond, I know them infinitely better than she does.
She never saw them since Lady Tyrrell's marriage, when Eleonora was
a mere child; now I saw a great deal of them at Rockpier last year.
There was poor Jamie Armstrong sent down to spend the winter on the
south coast; and as none of his own people could be with him, we--
his Oxford friends, I mean--took turns to come to him; and as I had
just gone up for my degree, I had the most time. The Vivians had
been living there ever since they went on poor Emily's account.
They did not like to leave the place where she died you see; and
Lady Tyrrell had joined them after her husband's death. Such a
pleasant house! no regular gaieties, of course, but a few friends in
a quiet way--music and charades, and so forth. Every one knew
everybody there; not a bit of our stiff county ways, but meeting all
day long in the most sociable manner."