'Yes, John is a strong temptation,' said the bright little invalid,
'but you must let Mrs. Kendal find out in a month's time whether she
has work enough.'

'I could think my wise brother Maurice had been cautioning you,' said
Albinia, taking leave as of an old friend, for indeed she felt more
at home with Mrs. Dusautoy than with any acquaintance she had made in
Bayford.

Albinia told her husband of the state of the cottages, and railed at
Mr. Pettilove much to her own satisfaction. Mr. Kendal answered, 'He
would see about it,' an answer of which Albinia had yet to learn the
import.




CHAPTER IV.



There are some characters so constituted, that of them the old
proverb, that Love is blind, is perfectly true; they can see no
imperfection in the mind or body of those dear to them. There are
others in whom the strongest affections do not destroy clearness of
vision, who see their friends on all sides, and perceive their faults
and foibles, without loving them the less.

Albinia Kendal was a person of the latter description. It might
almost be called her temptation, that her mind beheld all that came