were numerous, and people were good enough to spend much time in wondering what would happen, and devising schemes whereby both might be successfully disposed of.

In the midst of these complications the world was surprised to learn that the lady in question had a daughter by a previous marriage; that this daughter had already arrived at the rectory to "console her mother in the hour of affliction," as Mrs. Lackingham put it; and furthermore, rumour affirmed that Miss St. Maur was a very lovely girl. The first part of this report was quickly ascertained to be correct; the second was doubted by many, and believed by a few, who, however, only saw in it a fresh matter for aggravation. What business had Mrs. Lackingham at all with a daughter unknown to them? Why was she not produced during her late husband's lifetime? What guarantee had they that Mrs. Lackingham had ever been a Mrs. St. Maur at all, or that this young woman was her daughter? "The St. Maurs of -shire

I know, and the St. Maurs of

VOL. I.

shire I know;

2

but who are these?" demanded a free-spoken, hard-headed old gentlewoman; and receiving no reply, either satisfactory or otherwise, she blackballed them in her own mind, and advised a good many others to do the same.

The religio loci had been outraged, and it was felt that circumstances required a victim. That Mrs. Lackingham should take advantage of the new rector's polite permission, to prolong her stay, was supposed to signify that both the mother and daughter were preparing to reward his unsuspecting kindness by treacherously inveigling him into matrimony. No real fear was, however, entertained on this head by those who knew him.

Mr. Edgecombe was one of those complete specimens of the old school which are still extant: a kindly-disposed man; a high Tory; an attested bon vivant, and a confirmed celibate; a sayer of good things; and possessing that universal gallantry, which the opposite sex affirm to be so insincere and unproductive. No; it was felt that he could defend himself; and no

measures of protection were devised in his behalf. But as the dowagers talked over these things in their drawing-rooms, those among them who had sons were filled with apprehension, and they resolved with one accord to eschew all intercourse, and to keep the young men under their own eye, until such time as these women should have departed from among them. This was, perhaps, hardly fair, for it was all mere supposition; no actual proof of evil intention could be proved. But their disgust rose to its height when Miss St. Maur appeared in the rectory pew attended by a servant; she was in deep mourning and closely veiled, it is true, but a quantity of magħnificent fair-coloured, silky hair, fell in a net beneath her bonnet, so as to be visible to all beholders, and it was thought to be an omen of dangerous beauty.

Meanwhile, the winding-up of affairs proceeded; the creditors took all there was, amounting to about one-third of what they actually claimed, and then agreed to sign their acquittance in full, well convinced that not another shilling

was forthcoming. Finally, Mrs. Lackingham, looking worn and pale indeed, but gentle and suave as ever, emerged from her seclusion, and took up her abode in a pretty little cottage in the neighbourhood. The lines of defence were then immediately strengthened: the gentry called on her, but they did not do so cordially, or with any visible intention of promoting intimacy; and when the visit was returned, the same distant and distrustful thought was felt, if not expressed in so many words.

Women have an instinct in these things; and Mrs. Lackingham probably did not see her way to anything pleasant by remaining longer. She was not in a position to punish her adversaries, or she would gladly have done it: she could not, indeed, even rebel with success; so she preserved the equanimity of her temper, and began to meditate flight. In a month she vacated her cottage, and, with her daughter, departed from the hostile camp, leaving a few trifling debts unpaid: of which it is a fact creditable to the kindliness of the tradespeople that she never

heard more. In this matter they appeared in advantageous contrast with the class above them. But then, it may be said, they had less at stake: it is one thing to lose ten pounds, and it is another thing to lose your son, or, what amounts to the same thing, accept a daughter-in-law whom your heart abominates.