After breakfast Mr. Mohun called Emily into his study, informed her of his resolution, to which she listened with her usual submissive manner, and told her that he trusted to her good sense and right feeling to obviate any collisions of authority which might be unpleasant to Alethea and hurtful to the younger ones. She promised all that was desired, and though at the moment she felt hurt and grieved, she almost immediately recovered her usual spirits, never high, but always serene, and only seeking for easy amusement and comfort in whatever happened. There was no public disgrace in her deposition; it would not seem unnatural to the neighbours that her brother’s wife should be at the head of the house. She would gain credit for her amiability, and she would no longer be responsible or obliged to exert herself; and as to Alethea herself, she could not help respecting and almost loving her. It was very well it was no worse. In the meantime Lily, struck by a sudden thought, had hastened to her mother’s little deserted morning-room, to see if it could not be made a delightful abode for Alethea; and she was considering of its capabilities when she started at the sound of an approaching step. It was the rapid and measured tread of the Captain, and in a few moments he entered. ‘Thank you,’ said he, smiling, ‘you are on the same errand as myself.’ ‘Exactly so,’ said Lily; ‘it will do capitally; how pretty Long Acre looks, and what a beautiful view of the church!’ ‘This room used once to be pretty,’ said William, looking round, disappointed; ‘it is very forlorn.’ ‘Ah! but it will look very different when the chairs do not stand with their backs to the wall. I do not think Alethea knows of this room, for nobody has sat in it for years, and we will make it a surprise. And here is your own picture, at ten years old, over the fireplace! I have such a vision, you will not know the room when I have set it to rights.’ They went on talking eagerly of the improvements that might be made, and from thence came to other subjects—Alethea herself, and the future plans. At last William asked if Lily knew what made Jane look as deplorable as she had done for the last two days, and Lily was obliged to tell him, with the addition that Eleanor had begun to inform her of the real fact, but that she had stopped her by declaring that she had known it all from the first. Just as they had mentioned her, Jane, attracted by the unusual sound of voices in Lady Emily’s room, came in, asking what they could be doing there. Lily would scarcely have dared to reply, but William said in a grave, matter-of-fact way, ‘We are thinking of having this room newly fitted up.’ ‘For Alethea Weston?’ said Jane; ‘how can you, Lily? I should have thought, at least, it was no laughing matter.’ ‘I advise you to follow Lily’s example and make the best of it,’ said William.