shall be, in effect, homeless--a boarder around upon my rebukeful
relatives, who 'always thought how my trifling would end,' and who
will be forever scribbling 'vanitas vanitatum,' upon the tombstone
of my departed youth--my day of beaux and offers. You may shake your
head and look heroic with all your might! You are no better off than
I, should your brother see cause to refuse his consent to your
marriage with Mr. Chilton. He could, and probably would, coerce you
into another alliance before you were twenty-one. There are so many
ways of letting the life out of a woman's heart, when it is already
faint from disappointment! The spirit is oftener broken by
unyielding, but not seemingly cruel pressure, than by outrageous
violence. And Winston would show himself an adept in such arts, if
occasion offered."

"Rosa Tazewell! you are speaking of my brother, my friend and
benefactor! one of the best, noblest, most disinterested creatures
Heaven ever made!" cried Mabel, erect and indignant. "You have no
warrant--I shall never give you the right--to asperse him in my
presence. He is incapable of cruelty or unfairness. It is my duty to
obey him, but it is no less a pleasure, for he is a hundred-fold
wiser and better than I am--knows far more truly what is for my real
advantage. As to his conduct in this affair of Frederic and myself,
yon cannot deny that it has been generous and consistent throughout.
He has been cautious--never harsh!"

"So!" said Rosa, scrutinizing the flushed countenance of the other,
her own full of intense meaning, "you HAVE had your misgivings!"

Mabel reddened more warmly.