share with him in the managing, consulting headship of the house,
leaving Louis as something to be cared for and petted like a child,
without a voice in their decisions. These conversations used to make
her almost jealous on Louis's account, and painfully recall some of
her mother's apprehensions.

That was the real secret source of all her discomfort--namely, the
misgiving lest she had been too ready to follow the dictates of her
own heart. Would her mother have been satisfied? Had not her
fondness and her desolation prevailed, where, for Louis's own sake,
she should have held back! Every time she felt herself the elder in
heart, every time she feared to have disappointed him, every time she
saw that his liveliness was repressed by her mournfulness, she feared
that she was letting him sacrifice himself. And still more did she
question her conduct towards her father. She had only gradually
become aware of the extent of the mutual aversion between him and the
Earl; and Miss Ponsonby's reproaches awakened her to the fear that
she had too lightly given credence to hostile evidence. Her
affection would fain have justified him; and, forgetting the
difficulties of personal investigation in such a case, she blamed
herself for having omitted herself to question the confidential
clerk, and having left all to Lord Ormersfield, who, cool and wary as
he ordinarily was, would be less likely to palliate Mr. Ponsonby's
errors than those of any other person. Her heart grew sick as she
counted the weeks ere she could hear from Lima.

None of her troubles were allowed to interfere with Mrs. Frost's
peace. Outwardly, she was cheerful and helpful; equable, though less
lively. Those carpets and curtains, tables and chairs, which were
the grand topics at the House Beautiful, were neither neglected nor