then she saw their dresses flutter as they turned sharp round, up the
terrace steps. She would not go beyond the nook among the laurels by
which she was surrounded, lest any one should see her as she looked
after her girls. But when the last flutter of the pink muslin had
been whisked away from her sight, she felt it hard that she might not
follow them. She stood there, however, without advancing a step. She
would not have Hopkins telling how she watched her daughters as they
went from her own home to that of her brother-in-law. It was not
within the capacity of Hopkins to understand why she watched them.

"Well, girls, you're not much too soon. I think your mother might
have come with you," said Uncle Christopher. And this was the manner
of the man. Had he known his own wishes he must have acknowledged to
himself that he was better pleased that Mrs Dale should stay away. He
felt himself more absolutely master and more comfortably at home at
his own table without her company than with it. And yet he frequently
made a grievance of her not corning, and himself believed in that
grievance.

"I think mamma was tired," said Bell.

"Hem. It's not so very far across from one house to the other. If I
were to shut myself up whenever I'm tired-- But never mind. Let's
go to dinner. Mr Crosbie, will you take my niece Lilian." And then,
offering his own arm to Bell, he walked off to the dining-room.

"If he scolds mamma any more, I'll go away," said Lily to her
companion; by which it may be seen that they had all become very
intimate during the long day that they had passed together.