"Oh! a cousin of Father Bowles was there?" said Laura slowly. "Well, did he make a pretty tale?" "Laura! you are the most provoking--You don't the least understand what people think. How could you go with him when everybody remonstrated?" "Nobody remonstrated," said the girl sharply. "His sister begged you not to go." "His sister did nothing of the kind. She was staying the night in the village, and there was literally nothing for me to do but come home with Hubert or to throw myself on some stranger." "And such stories as one hears about this dreadful young man!" cried Augustina. "I dare say. There are always stories." "I couldn't even tell you what they are about!" said Augustina. "Your father would _certainly_ have forbidden it altogether." There was a silence. Laura held her head as high as ever. She was, in fact, in a fever of contradiction and resentment, and the interference of people like Mrs. Denton and the Sisters was fast bringing about Mason's forgiveness. Naturally, she was likely to hear the worst of him in that house. What Helbeck, or what dependent on a Helbeck, would give him the benefit of any doubt? Augustina knitted with all her might for a few minutes, and then looked up. "Don't you think," she said, with a timid change of tone--"don't you think, dear, you might go to Cambridge for a few weeks? I am sure the Friedlands would take you in. You would come in for all the parties, and--and you needn't trouble about me. Sister Angela's niece could come and stay here for a few weeks. The Reverend Mother told me so." Laura rose. "Sister Angela suggested that? Thank you, I won't have my plans settled for me by Sister Angela. If you and Mr. Helbeck want to turn me out, why, of course I shall go." Augustina held out her hands in terror at the girl's attitude and voice. "Laura, don't say such things! As if you weren't an angel to me! As if I could bear the thought of anybody else!" A quiver ran through Laura's features. "Well, then, don't bear it," she said, kneeling down again beside her stepmother. "You look quite ill and excited, Augustina. I think we'll keep the Reverend Mother out in future. Won't you lie down and let me cover you up?" So it ended for the time--with physical weakness on Augustina's part, and caresses on Laura's. But when she was alone, Miss Fountain sat down and tried to think things out. "What are the Sisters meddling for? Do they find me in their way? I'm flattered! I wish I was. Well!--is drunkenness the worst thing in the world?" she asked herself deliberately. "Of course, if it goes beyond a certain point it is like madness--you must keep out of its way, for your own sake. But papa used to say there were many things a great deal worse. So there are!--meanness, and shuffling with truth for the sake of your soul. As for the other tales, I don't believe them. But if I did, I am not going to marry him!"