Poor Mrs Darnley suffered perhaps as much as any of the party, for she was mightily fond of talking, and that more especially when the stable topic was trifling and indifferent. She was a very worthy and good sort of woman, but her taste was not for anything remarkably grave and serious; disputed points, she always avoided most carefully and conscientiously, knowing that she must of course have the worst of the argument. As for argument, it was a matter altogether strange and foreign to her. Her early youth had not been accustomed to it; and when she married Mr Darnley, one great inducement to the union was the consideration of his prodigious wisdom. Mrs Darnley would therefore as soon think of turning the church weathercock by her own breath, as moving the mind of her reverend lord and master by her own arguments. It was therefore a grievous annoyance to her that this unpleasant affair clouded the aspect of her venerable husband; for when there is in a family a common-place mind like that of Mrs Darnley, it is impossible for that mind to speak at all if there be in the whole compass of its knowledge any prohibited topic. There is always a nervous apprehension that, by some unintentional awkwardness, a blunder may be made, and that the tongue may let itself loose upon the forbidden theme. So felt poor Mrs Darnley. The sisters of the young gentleman were situated as awkwardly. They could only talk about books, and they could only talk to one another. For Mrs Darnley was not bookishly inclined, and Mr Darnley and his son were also more deeply interested in other matters. Thus it came to pass that, by the ungainly crotchets of the reverend rector of Neverden, the hours passed unpleasantly both at Smatterton and Neverden. CHAPTER XII. It is a curious question which no mortal can answer, “If this world had not been created what would have been created instead of it?” This question is ridiculous enough; but very wise men have asked questions quite as ridiculous, if not more so. And perhaps we ourselves with all our wisdom, which is only equalled by that of our readers, might be disposed to ask--If the event hereinafter detailed had not interrupted the unpleasant and painful silence at Neverden rectory, what would? When the miserable and perplexing stagnation of family prate had lasted some few days, and when Mr Robert Darnley and his sisters had begun to despair that the ice would ever be broken, an unexpected event gave a new turn to all their thoughts, and set their tongues at liberty like a general thaw. The narration of this event will require many words. But as these words may be lucidly arranged, and as there may be in them a fullness of interest and a copious course of reflection and wise meditation, the reader will more than excuse their multitude.