They immediately knew the voice to be that of Penelope; they therefore directly and promptly answered her, and they called her cheerfully by name, and she with fluttering agitation descended as rapidly as the crazy stairs would allow her. They all three held out their hands to her, and the meeting, though in so miserable a place, was delightful to both parties. To Penelope it was most especially agreeable, for it was an indication to her mind of returning good-will on the part of the elder Mr Darnley. All the young ladies talked together rapidly and cheerfully, till Penelope recollected that there was a sick one in the room above who might be disturbed by the tumult below. And therefore she recommended that they should leave the cottage, and she proposed that the young ladies should accompany her back to the parsonage. But, as they stepped out into the open air, there was an insuperable objection started against an adjournment to Penelope’s home. At hearing this objection the poor girl’s spirit sunk again. It was grievous to her to hear that Mr Darnley still persevered in his morose opposition; for Robert Darnley had with very great confidence asserted, that he had not the slightest doubt that he should, by speaking positively and acting decidedly, bring his father to give his consent and approbation. The young lady had expressed to Robert Darnley that she would not, without this consent and approbation, give him her hand; it was therefore a painful shock to her spirit, when she heard from his sisters that the father was so much moved at the proposal, that the young gentleman did not think it advisable even to pay a visit to Smatterton. Penelope made a great effort to conceal her emotion from the sisters of Robert Darnley, but it was not an easy task to hide those feelings which were so powerful. The young ladies were sorry to see that Miss Primrose suffered so much from the unpleasant intelligence, and they really felt a deep compassion for her; and as they had in time past been angry with her, and had suppressed all kindly feelings, they now made up for former coldness or ill-humour by a super-abundant measure of sympathy and affection. And they spoke words of encouragement to her, and told her of their brother’s firmness and constancy. For their kindness Penelope was truly grateful, and though a tear was visibly starting, she assumed as well as could be an aspect of cheerfulness, and she thanked them for their kindness. They were standing together in an attitude of hesitation near the wretched cottage from which they had just emerged. And Penelope, as if to divert her thoughts from her own sorrows, and to make her lot look bright by contemplating one that was much darker, said to the Miss Darnleys: “I have just been witnessing in this miserable dwelling a scene of such heart-rending distress, as I could scarcely have imagined it possible for human nature to endure or human guilt to deserve.”