perturbation; the pain which must be caused to her was perhaps the
point of most resistance in herself--she having made up her mind to
her new experience. All she could do would be to try to reconcile
her by the assurance of good intention; by reason, and by sweetness
of manner. When she had kissed her and sat beside her, holding her
hand after her pretty way, she, seeing the elder woman somewhat at a
loss, opened the subject herself:

'You look troubled, auntie! I hope it is nothing serious?'

'It is, my dear! Very serious! Everything is serious to me which
touches you.'

'Me, Auntie!' Hypocrisy is a fine art.

'Yes! yes, Stephen. Oh! my dear child, what is this I hear about
your going to Petty Sessions with your father?'

'Oh, that! Why, Auntie dear, you must not let that trouble you. It
is all right. That is necessary!'

'Necessary!' the old lady's figure grew rigid and her voice was loud
and high. 'Necessary for a young lady to go to a court house. To
hear low people speaking of low crimes. To listen to cases of the
most shocking kind; cases of low immorality; cases of a kind, of a
nature of a--a--class that you are not supposed to know anything
about. Really, Stephen! . . . ' She was drawing away her hand in
indignation. But Stephen held it tight, as she said very sweetly:

'That is just it, Auntie. I am so ignorant that I feel I should know