Albinia if her son would be in tail-coats; but she thought I was
laughing at her, and would not say. She is quite eager at the notion
of being governess to the girls.'

'She has wanted scope for her energies,' said Mr. Ferrars. 'Even
spoiling her nephew, and being my curate, have not afforded field
enough for her spirit of usefulness.'

'That is what I am afraid of.'

'Of what, Winifred?'

'That it is my fault. Before our marriage, you and she were the
whole world to each other; but since I came, I have seen, as you say,
that the craving for work was strong, and I fear it actuates her more
than she knows.'

'No such thing. It is a case of good hearty love. What, are you
afraid of that, too?'

'Yes, I am. I grudge her giving her fresh whole young heart away to
a man who has no return to make. His heart is in his first wife's
grave. Yes, you may smile, Maurice, as if I were talking romance;
but only look at him, poor man! Did you ever see any one so utterly
broken down? She can hardly beguile a smile from him.'

'His melancholy is one of his charms in her eyes.'

'So it may be, as a sort of interesting romance. I am sure I pity
the poor man heartily, but to see her at three-and-twenty, with her