“And very wisely. Do I understand that Mrs North required you to expose yourself to the sight of these horrors? It is monstrous!” “She didn’t ask me to come; I offered to help her.” “In the hope of pleasing her, of course. It is all the same. In the abundant strength of mind and body she possesses, she forgets that other people are more delicately organised than herself. I am amazed at her lack of consideration.” “I won’t have you say such things about Georgia!” cried Mabel. “She is the best and dearest woman I know.” “I honour your enthusiasm. Pray don’t mistake me. I have the highest possible esteem myself for Mrs North, but she is a little too strenuous for my taste.” “I wouldn’t have her the least bit different. I wish I was like her, instead of being so silly and cowardly.” “No, Miss North, let me beg of you not to wish that. I would not have _you_ different. Your sister-in-law’s training and her past experiences account for many--er--remarkable points in her character, but, believe me, your true friends would rather see in you this womanly shrinking from the sight of suffering than a bold determination to relieve it.” “I hope I may consider you one of those true friends?” Mabel tried to infuse a note of strong sarcasm into her voice. “I hope you may. It is difficult, is it not, to feel confidence in one who differs so totally from Mrs North and her husband? But this is a question upon which we will not enter--yet.” “Could I say that I preferred to enter upon it at once?” Mabel demanded angrily of herself when she had made her escape. “Somehow he gets such an advantage over me by putting me down in that lofty way, and yet I don’t know how to stop it. The idea of his daring to criticise Georgie to me!” But Mr Burgrave was even bolder than Mabel imagined. Returning the next morning from a ride with Fitz Anstruther, she was greeted by a laugh from Georgia as she mounted the steps. “Oh, Mab, I have been having quite a scolding, and all about you! It’s clear that I am not worthy to have such a sister-in-law.” “Georgie! you don’t mean that Mr Burgrave has been so rude as to----” “Now, Mab, you know better than that. It would be impossible to him to be rude. He simply took me to task, very mildly and calmly, about the way I neglect you, though I stand to you in the place of a mother----” “Nonsense!” exclaimed Mabel, her face scarlet. “So he says. It seems I am lacking in the tenderness which should be lavished upon you. Our rough frontier life ought to be tempered to you by all sorts of sweetness and light which I have made no attempt to supply. I have been inconsiderate in bringing you into contact with the revolting details of my professional work, and a lot more. Do forgive me, Mab. I really haven’t meant to do all these dreadful things, but you did want to make acquaintance with realities, you know.”