She left them with an air of despondency, but her daughters knew she was not really unhappy. Some opposition to her supremacy she foresaw, but the impending struggle interested her. She was not afraid of it nor yet doubtful of its result. "I know my own son, I hope," she whispered to herself, "and as for Theodora--_that_ for Theodora!" And she snapped her fingers scornfully and defiantly. Isabel and Christina followed their mother, taking the long, broad stairway with much slower steps. Their dull faces, listless tread, and monotonous speech were in remarkable contrast to the passionate eagerness of the elder woman, whose whole body radiated scorn and anger. As they began the ascent, the clock struck three, and Isabel looked at Christina, who answered her with a slight movement of the head. "He is just leaving the Caledonian Station," she said. "For Theodora," replied Christina bitterly. "How I hate that name already!" "And the girl also, Isabel?" "Yes, the girl also. What has she to do in our family? The Campbells can live without her--fine!" "I wonder if Mrs. Robertson will ask us to meet this new minister." "I hope not. He will just be one of her 'divinity lads,' with his license to preach fresh in his pocket. They are all of them poor and sickeningly young. No man is fit to marry until he is forty years old, unless you want the discipline of training him." "That is some of Mrs. Oliphant's talk, Isabel." "Mrs. Oliphant knows what she is talking about, Christina." "I wonder what you see in that American!" "Everything I would like to be--if I dared." "Why do you not call on her, then?" "Mother does not approve either of her conversation, or her dress, Christina." "Her dress is lovely. I wish I could dress like her." "Christina Campbell! Her neck is shockingly uncovered, and her trains half fill a small room. Mother says her modesty begins at her feet--and stops there; but she is certainly very clever, and her husband waits on her like a lover. The men look at him as if they thought him a fool, but very likely he is the only wise man among them. What are you going to do this afternoon?" "Dress and then unpick the work I did yesterday. It is all wrong." "How interesting!" "As much so as anything else. I should like to practise a little, but the piano is closed on Saturdays." "That's all right. You always had a knack of playing unsuitable music on Saturdays." "Mother makes two Sundays in a week. It isn't fair." By this time they were on the corridor of the floor on which their rooms were situated, and as they stood at the door of Isabel's room, Christina said: "At eight o'clock to-night, I wish you would make a remark about Robert being with Theodora." "Make it yourself, Christina." "You know mother pays no attention to anything I say. You are the eldest."