herself, he was like another person, and the long drives to return
visits in the country were thoroughly enjoyable. So, too, were the
walks home from the dinner parties in the town, when the husband and
wife lingered in the starlight or moonlight, and felt that the weary
gaiety of the constrained evening was made up for.

Great was the offence they gave by not taking out the carriage!

It was disrespect to Bayford, and one of the airs of which Mrs.
Kendal was accused. As granddaughter of a Baron, daughter of one
General Officer and sister of another, and presented at Court, the
Bayford ladies were prepared to consider her a fine lady, and when
they found her peculiarly simple, were the more aggrieved, as if her
contempt were ironically veiled. Her walks, her dress, her
intercourse with the clergy, were all airs, and Lucy spared her none
of the remarks. Albinia might say, 'Don't tell me all Aunt Maria
says,' but it was impossible not to listen; and whether in mirth or
vexation, she was sure to be harmed by what she heard.

And yet, except for the tale-bearing, Lucy was really giving less
trouble than her sister, she was quick, observant, and obliging, and
under Albinia's example, the more salient vulgarities of speech and
manner were falling off. There had seldom been any collision, since
it had become evident that Mrs. Kendal could and would hold her own;
and that her address and air, even while criticised, were regarded as
something superior, so that it was a distinction to belong to her.
How many of poor Albinia'a so-called airs should justly have been
laid to Lucy's account?

On the other hand, Sophy would attend to a word from her father,