Mrs. Robarts herself was what we call demonstrative. When she was angry with Lady Lufton she showed it. And as, since that time, her love and admiration for Lady Lufton had increased, she showed that also. When she was in any way displeased with her husband, she could not hide it, even though she tried to do so, and fancied herself successful—no more than she could hide her warm, constant, overflowing woman's love. She could not walk through a room hanging on her husband's arm without seeming to proclaim to every one there that she thought him the best man in it. She was demonstrative, and therefore she was the more disappointed in that Lucy did not rush at once with all her cares into her open heart.
"She is so quiet," Fanny said to her husband.
"That's her nature," said Mark. "She always was quiet as a child. While we were smashing every thing, she would never crack a teacup."
"I wish she would break something now," said Fanny, "and then perhaps we should get to talk about it." But she did not, on this account, give over loving her sister-in-law. She probably valued her the more, unconsciously, for not having those aptitudes with which she herself was endowed.
And then, after two days, Lady Lufton called; of course it may be supposed that Fanny had said a good deal to her new inmate about Lady Lufton. A neighbor of that kind in the country exercises so large an influence upon the whole tenor of one's life, that to abstain from such talk is out of the question. Mrs. Robarts had been brought up almost under the dowager's wing, and of course she regarded her as being worthy of much talking. Do not let persons on this account suppose that Mrs. Robarts was a tuft-hunter or a toadeater. If they do not see the difference, they have yet got to study the earliest principles of human nature.
Lady Lufton called, and Lucy was struck dumb. Fanny was particularly anxious that her ladyship's first impression should be favorable, and, to effect this, she especially endeavored to throw the two together during that visit. But in this she was unwise. Lady Lufton, however, had woman-craft enough not to be led into any egregious error by Lucy's silence.
"And what day will you come and dine with us?" said
