been with them ever since six o'clock, exhorting them, praying with them,
and even waiting on them like any nurse; and Caroline's good friend, Miss
Ainley, that very plain old maid, sent in a stock of lint and linen, something
in the proportion of another lady's allowance of beef and wine.«
    »That will do. Where is your sister?«
    »Well cared for. I had her securely domiciled with Miss Mann. This very
morning, the two set out for Wormwood Wells (a noted watering-place), and will
stay there some weeks.«
    »So Mr. Helstone domiciled me at the Rectory! Mighty clever you gentlemen
think you are! I make you heartily welcome to the idea, and hope its savour, as
you chew the cud of reflection upon it, gives you pleasure. Acute and astute,
why are you not also omniscient? How is it that events transpire, under your
very noses, of which you have no suspicion? It should be so, otherwise the
exquisite gratification of out-manoeuvring you would be unknown. Ah! friend, you
may search my countenance, but you cannot read it.«
    Moore, indeed, looked as if he could not.
    »You think me a dangerous specimen of my sex. Don't you, now?«
    »A peculiar one, at least.«
    »But Caroline - is she peculiar?«
    »In her way - yes.«
    »Her way! What is her way?«
    »You know her as well as I do.«
    »And knowing her I assert that she is neither eccentric nor difficult of
control: is she?«
    »That depends -«
    »However, there is nothing masculine about her?«
    »Why lay such emphasis on her? Do you consider her a contrast, in that
respect, to yourself?«
    »You do, no doubt: but that does not signify. Caroline is neither masculine,
nor of what they call the spirited order of women.«
    »I have seen her flash out.«
    »So have I - but not with manly fire: it was a short, vivid, trembling glow,
that shot up, shone, vanished -«
    »And left her scared at her own daring. You describe others besides
Caroline.«
    »The point I wish to establish is, that Miss Helstone, though gentle,
tractable, and candid enough, is still perfectly capable of defying even Mr.
Moore's penetration.«
    »What have you and she been doing?«