C. I never can understand why they don't have a governess. MRS. H. Can't you? Is there not a considerable outgoing on your behalf? C. That is my own. I am not bound to educate my uncle's children at my expense. MRS. H. No; but if you contributed your share to the housekeeping, you would make a difference, and surely you cannot leave your mother to break down her health by overworking herself in this manner. C. Why does grandpapa let her do so? MRS. H. Partly he does not see, partly he cannot help it. He has been so entirely accustomed to have all those family and parish details taken off his hands, and borne easily as they were when your dear grandmamma and I were both there at home, that he cannot understand that they can be over much--especially as they are so small in themselves. Besides, he is not so young as he was, and your dear mother cannot bear to trouble him. C. Well, I shall go there in September and see about it. It is impossible before. MRS. H. In the hopping holidays, when the stress of work is over! Cannot you see with your own eyes how fagged and ill your mother looks, and how much she wants help? C. Oh! she will be all right again after this rest. I tell you, Aunt Phrasie, it is _IMPOSSIBLE_ at present--(CAB STOPS). IX. THE TWO SISTERS SCENE.--A ROOM IN PROFESSOR DUNLOP'S HOUSE. MRS. MOLDWARP AND MRS. HOLLAND. MRS. H. I have done my best, but I can't move her an inch. MRS. M. Poor dear girl! Yet it seems hardly fair to make my health the lever, when really there is nothing serious the matter. MRS. H. I can't understand the infatuation. Can there be any love affair? MRS. M. Oh no, Phrasie; it is worse! MRS. H. Worse! Mary, what can you mean? MRS. M. Yes, it _IS_ worse. I got at the whole truth yesterday. My poor child's faith has gone! Oh, how could I let her go and let her mingle among all those people, all unguarded! MRS. H. Do you mean that this is the real reason that she will not come home? MRS. M. Yes; she told me plainly at last that she could not stand our round of services. They seem empty and obsolete to her, and she could not feign to attend them or vex us, and cause remarks by staying away, and of course she neither could nor would teach anything but secular matters. 'My coming would be nothing but pain to everybody,' she said. MRS H. You did not tell me this before my drive with her. MRS. M. No, I never saw you alone; besides, I thought you would speak more freely without the knowledge. And, to tell the truth, I did think it possible that consideration for me might bring my poor Cissy down to us, and that when once under my father's influence, all these mists might clear away. But I do not deserve it. I have been an unfaithful parent, shutting my eyes in feeble indulgence, and letting her drift into these quicksands. MRS. H. Fashion and imitation, my dear Mary; it will pass away. Now, you are not to talk any more. MRS. M. I can't-- (A SPASM COMES ON.)