It had been made known to Mr Darnley for what purpose Miss Primrose was making preparations for a journey to London. But, though the fact had been communicated, the reason for that step had not been mentioned; not a word had been said concerning the pressing importunity of the Countess; nor was there any notice taken to him of the reluctance with which Penelope had consented to this arrangement. It appeared therefore to Mr Darnley that the measure was quite in unison with the young lady’s own wishes; nor did he see how incongruous such a movement as this must be with his suspicions of the aspiring views of his late friend’s niece. At all events, this proceeding on the part of Miss Primrose appeared to him, and very naturally so, as a tacit relinquishment of the engagement with his son: as it was impossible for her not to know how repugnant it must be to the feelings and taste of Mr Robert Darnley. But as the elder Mr Darnley held the clerical office, of the sanctity and dignity of which he had very high ideas, he thought it but part of his duty to administer a word or two of exhortation to the young lady about to embark in a concern of such a peculiar nature. Now to render exhortation palatable, or even tolerable, requires a very considerable share of address and dexterity, more indeed than usually falls to the lot of clerical or of laical gentry. It is easy enough to utter most majestically and authoritatively a mass of common places concerning the dangers to which young people are exposed in the world. It is easy to say, “Now let me advise you always to be upon your guard against the allurements of the world, and to conduct yourself circumspectly, and be very, very attentive to all the proper decorums and duties of your station.” Such talk as this anybody may utter; and when young people commence life, they expect to hear such talk; and for the most part, to say the best of it, it produces no effect, good, bad, or indifferent. It is also easy to render exhortation painful and distressing, by making it assume the form of something humiliating and reproachful; and when it has also a reference to some departed friend, or to circumstances once bright, but now gloomy, and when these references are founded on injustice, and when this injustice cannot be refuted or rectified without some explanation or explanations more painful still, then it is that exhortation is doubly painful and distressing. So fell upon the ear and heart of poor Penelope the exhorting language of Mr Darnley.