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?'

'Because this is too personal to myself.'

'Nay, your own candour is an example to which Lucy can hardly be
insensible. Besides, it is a nuisance which must be abated.'

Albinia could not help thinking that he suffered from it as little as
most people, and wondering whether it were this which had taught him