Laura waited for Mrs. Berrington to come in but she failed to appear, so that the girl gathered her waterproof together with an intention of departure. But she was secretly reluctant, because she had walked over to Plash with a vague hope that some soothing hand would be laid upon her pain. If there was no comfort at the dower-house she knew not where to look for it, for there was certainly none at home--not even with Miss Steet and the children. It was not Lady Davenant's leading characteristic that she was comforting, and Laura had not aspired to be coaxed or coddled into forgetfulness: she wanted rather to be taught a certain fortitude--how to live and hold up one's head even while knowing that things were very bad. A brazen indifference--it was not exactly that that she wished to acquire; but were there not some sorts of indifference that were philosophic and noble? Could Lady Davenant not teach them, if she should take the trouble? The girl remembered to have heard that there had been years before some disagreeable occurrences in _her_ family; it was not a race in which the ladies inveterately turned out well. Yet who to-day had the stamp of honour and credit--of a past which was either no one's business or was part and parcel of a fair public record--and carried it so much as a matter of course? She herself had been a good woman and that was the only thing that told in the long run. It was Laura's own idea to be a good woman and that this would make it an advantage for Lady Davenant to show her how not to feel too much. As regards feeling enough, that was a branch in which she had no need to take lessons. The old woman liked cutting new books, a task she never remitted to her maid, and while her young visitor sat there she went through the greater part of a volume with the paper-knife. She didn't proceed very fast--there was a kind of patient, awkward fumbling of her aged hands; but as she passed her knife into the last leaf she said abruptly--'And how is your sister going on? She's very light!' Lady Davenant added before Laura had time to reply. 'Oh, Lady Davenant!' the girl exclaimed, vaguely, slowly, vexed with herself as soon as she had spoken for having uttered the words as a protest, whereas she wished to draw her companion out. To correct this impression she threw back her waterproof. 'Have you ever spoken to her?' the old woman asked. 'Spoken to her?' 'About her behaviour. I daresay you haven't--you Americans have such a lot of false delicacy. I daresay Selina wouldn't speak to you if you were in her place (excuse the supposition!) and yet she is capable----' But Lady Davenant paused, preferring not to say of what young Mrs. Berrington was capable. 'It's a bad house for a girl.' 'It only gives me a horror,' said Laura, pausing in turn. 'A horror of your sister? That's not what one should aim at. You ought to get married--and the sooner the better. My dear child, I have neglected you dreadfully.'