Under all this there was only Marian to sustain Caroline, and their friendship was an additional offence. Marian knew that Mrs. Lyddell regarded her as the head of a hostile party, and a sower of dissension in the family, by no means an agreeable footing on which to stand; but the only way, was to appear completely unconscious, and behave as far as possible as usual. She was grateful to them for making it no worse, and still more for not having objected to her continuing her rides with Lionel, from whom, it may well be believed, she scarcely ever took her eyes, from the time his foot was in the stirrup. Lionel was triumphant at the dismissal of "Julian the apostate," but he was disappointed to find that Caroline did not recover her spirits "now she had had her own way, and got rid of the man." He did not like to have her presence announced by a sigh, and to hear the subdued, dejected tone of her voice, and he used to wonder over it with Marian, who laughed at him for fancying it was such an easy matter to part with a lover, yet agreed that it was hard to understand how there could be love where there was no esteem. Lionel used to consult her as to what was to be done to cheer his sister, since his mother would only make everything worse and he could not bear her continued melancholy. "I do believe, Lionel," said Marian, "that you could do more for her than any body else. If you would but sometimes let her do things for you, ask her to help you, as--as you ask me." Lionel would not take the suggestion as she wished. "I thought you liked to help me," said he, in a somewhat offended tone. "O, don't I?" cried Marian, eagerly; "but so does every one, if you would only allow them." Lionel flourished the little switch in his hand till it made an ill-tempered "_swish!_" and Marian knew that he thought her ungrateful for the exclusive preference with which he honoured her. "She is your sister," she added. "Very well," said Lionel, crossly shaking off her arm, "I shall know what to be at, if you are tired of helping me." He could not see the tears in her eyes, and though she was extremely grieved, her voice did not betray how strong her feeling was. "Tired! O Lionel, how can you think it? But would it not be better to learn to depend less on me against I go away?" "Ay, and glad enough you'll be to go." "For all but your sake and poor Caroline's," said Marian. "Mrs. Lyddell does not like to have me here." "It would not be fair to want to keep you," said Lionel, "but----" "I should have much more comfort in going if I thought you and Caroline were helping each other," said Marian. "I know she wants to make you her first object."