trees to the left. At sight of them a smile overspread her plump
and gently wrinkled face. She fell gradually into a train of
thought, as feminine as that in which she had been just indulging,
but infinitely more pleasing.

For, with regard to the Leyburns, at this present moment Mrs.
Thornburgh felt herself in the great position of tutelary divinity
or guardian angel. At least if divinities and guardian angels do
not concern themselves with the questions to which Mrs. Thornburgh's
mind was now addressed, it would clearly have been the opinion of
the vicar's wife that they ought to do so.

'Who else is there to look after these girls, I should like to
know,' Mrs. Thornburgh inquired of herself, 'if I don't do it? As
if girls married themselves! People may talk of their independence
nowadays as much as they like--it always has to be done for them,
one way or another. Mrs. Leyburn, poor lackadaisical thing! is no
good whatever. No more is Catherine. They both behave as if
husbands tumbled into your mouth for the asking. Catherine's too
good for this world--but if she doesn't do it, I must. Why, that
girl Rose is a beauty--if they didn't let her wear those ridiculous
mustard-colored things, and do her hair fit to frighten the crows!
Agnes too--so ladylike and well mannered; she'd do credit to any
man. Well, we shall see, we shall see!'

And Mrs. Thornburgh gently shook her gray curls from side to side,
while, her eyes, fixed on the open spare room window, shone with
meaning.

'So eligible, too--private means, no encumbrances, and as good as