anything when they came; and he behaved very ill to the Admiral and
everybody at a vestry-meeting.'

'I shall ask your papa before I am in any hurry to call on the
Osborns!' cried Albinia. 'I have no desire to be intimate with
people who treat their clergyman in that way.'

'But Mrs. Osborn is quite the leader!' exclaimed Lucy. They keep the
best society here. So many families in the county come and call on
them.'

'Very likely--'

'Ah! Mrs. Osborn told Aunt Maria that as the Nugents called on you,
and you had such connexions, she supposed you would be high. But you
wont make me separate from Lizzie, will you? I suppose Miss Nugent
is a fashionable young lady.'

'Miss Nugent is five years old. Don't let us have any more of this
nonsense.'

'But you wont part me from Lizzie Osborn,' said Lucy, hanging her
head pathetically on one side.

'I shall talk to your father. He said, the other day, he did not
wish you to be so much with her.'

Lucy melted into tears, and Albinia was conscious of having been
first indiscreet and then sharp, hurt at the comments, feeling
injured by Lucy's evident habit of reporting whatever she said, and