granddaughter of Archibald Cobden in marriage.
She began to regret that she had thrown them together.
Her own ideas of reforming him had never
contemplated any such intimacy as now existed between
the young man and her sister. The side of
his nature which he had always shown her had been
one of respectful attention to her wishes; so much so
that she had been greatly encouraged in her efforts
to make something more of him than even his best
friends predicted could be done; but she had never
for one instant intended that her friendly interest
should go any further, nor could she have conceived
of such an issue.

And yet Jane did nothing to prevent the meetings
and outings of the young couple, even after Maria's
and Max's departure.

When Martha, in her own ever-increasing anxiety,
spoke of the growing intimacy she looked grave, but
she gave no indication of her own thoughts. Her
pride prevented her discussing the situation with
the old nurse and her love for Lucy from intervening
in her pleasures.

"She has been cooped up at school so long, Martha,
dear," she answered in extenuation, "that I hate to
interfere in anything she wants to do. She is very
happy; let her alone. I wish, though, she would
return some of the calls of these good people who