“Never,” said Miss Portman, looking at Helena; who, having quickness enough to perceive that her mother aimed this _tirade_ against ceremony at Lady Anne Percival, sat in the most painful embarrassment, her eyes cast down, and her face and neck colouring all over. “Never yet,” said Miss Portman, “did mere ceremonious person win any thing like real affection; especially from children, who are often excellent, because unprejudiced, judges of character.” “We are all apt to think, that an opinion that differs from our own is a prejudice,” said Lady Delacour: “what is to decide?” “Facts, I should think,” said Belinda. “But it is so difficult to get at facts, even about the merest trifles,” said Lady Delacour. “Actions we see, but their causes we seldom see--an aphorism worthy of Confucius himself: now to apply. Pray, my dear Helena, how came you by the pretty gold fishes that you were so good as to send to me yesterday?” “Lady Anne Percival gave them to me, ma’am.” “And how came her ladyship to give them to you, ma’am?” “She gave them to me,” said Helena, hesitating. “You need not blush, nor repeat to me that she gave them to you; that I have heard already--that is the fact: now for the cause--unless it be a secret. If it be a secret which you have been desired to keep, you are quite right to keep it. I make no doubt of its being necessary, according to some systems of education, that children should be taught to keep secrets; and I am convinced (for Lady Anne Percival is, I have heard, a perfect judge of propriety) that it is peculiarly proper that a daughter should know how to keep secrets from her mother: therefore, my dear, you need not trouble yourself to blush or hesitate any more--I shall ask no farther questions: I was not aware that there was any secret in the case.” “There is no secret in the world in the case, mamma,” said Helena; “I only hesitated because--” “You hesitated _only_ because, I suppose you mean. I presume Lady Anne Percival will have no objection to your speaking good English?” “I hesitated only because I was afraid it would not be right to praise myself. Lady Anne Percival one day asked us all--” “Us all?” “I mean Charles, and Edward, and me, to give her an account of some experiments, on the hearing of fishes, which Dr. X---- had told to us: she promised to give the gold fishes, of which we were all very fond, to whichever of us should give the best account of them--Lady Anne gave the fishes to me.” “And is this all the secret? So it was real modesty made her hesitate, Belinda? I beg your pardon, my dear, and Lady Anne’s: you see how candid I am, Belinda. But one question more, Helena: Who put it into your head to send me your gold fishes?”