'I did, till I found I had wasted my pity. Why could not these
Meadowses look after his children! Why must the Colonel bring him
here? I believe it was with malice prepense!'

'The Colonel went to see after him, and found him so drooping and
wretched, that he insisted on bringing him home with him, and old
Mrs. Meadows and her daughter almost forced him to accept the
invitation.'

'They little guessed what the Colonel would be at!'

'You will be better now you have the Colonel to abuse,' said her
husband.

'And pray what do you mean to say to the General?'

'Exactly what I think.'

'And to the aunts?' slyly asked the wife.

'I think I shall leave you all that correspondence. It will be too
edifying to see you making common cause with the aunts.'

'That comes of trying to threaten one's husband; and here they come,'
said Winifred. 'Well, Maurice, what can't be cured must be endured.
Albinia'a heart is gone, he is a very good man, and spite of India,
first wife, and melancholy, he does not look amiss!'

Mr. Ferrars smiled at the chary, grudging commendation of the tall,
handsome man who advanced through the beech-wood, but it was too true