 dear.«
    Shirley did come in with some impetuosity: she threw her arms round her
governess, and while she kissed her heartily, she said -
    »You know you must forgive me, Mrs. Pryor. I could not get on at all if
there was a misunderstanding between you and me.«
    »I have nothing to forgive,« was the reply. »We will pass it over now if you
please. The final result of the incident is, that it proves more plainly than
ever how unequal I am to certain crises.«
    And that was the painful feeling which would remain on Mrs. Pryor's mind: no
effort of Shirley's or Caroline's could efface it thence: she could forgive her
offending pupil, not her innocent self.
    Miss Keeldar, doomed to be in constant request during the morning, was
presently summoned down-stairs again. The Rector called first: a lively welcome
and livelier reprimand were at his service; he expected both, and, being in high
spirits, took them in equally good part.
    In the course of his brief visit, he quite forgot to ask after his niece:
the riot, the rioters, the mill, the magistrates, the heiress, absorbed all his
thoughts to the exclusion of family ties. He alluded to the part himself and
curate had taken in the defence of the Hollow.
    »The vials of pharisaical wrath will be emptied on our heads, for our share
in this business,« he said; »but I defy every calumniator. I was there only to
support the law, to play my part as a man and a Briton; which characters I deem
quite compatible with those of the priest and Levite, in their highest sense.
Your tenant, Moore,« he went on, »has won my approbation. A cooler commander I
would not wish to see, nor a more determined. Besides, the man has shown sound
judgment and good sense; first, in being thoroughly prepared for the event which
has taken place, and subsequently, when his well-concerted plans had secured him
success in knowing how to use without abusing his victory. Some of the
magistrates are now well frightened, and, like all cowards, show a tendency to
be cruel; Moore restrains them with admirable prudence. He has hitherto been
very unpopular in the neighbourhood; but, mark my words, the tide of opinion
will now take a turn in his favour: people will find out that they have not
appreciated him, and will hasten to remedy their error; and he, when he
perceives the public
