O yes--it must be right,' she repeated in a tone which showed that her opinion was unstable enough to require a little fortification by the voice.

'She loves your brother; she must, since she is going to marry him; and it can make little difference whether we rehabilitate the character of a friend now, or some few hours hence.

The author of those wicked tricks on Mr.Somerset ought not to go a moment unpunished.' 'That's what I think; and what right have we to hold our tongues even for a few hours ?' Charlotte found that by telling Mrs.Goodman she had simply made two irresolute people out of one, and as Paula was now inquiring for her, she went upstairs without having come to any decision.
XIV.
Paula was in her boudoir, writing down some notes previous to beginning her wedding toilet, which was designed to harmonize with the simplicity that characterized the other arrangements.

She owned that it was depriving the neighbourhood of a pageant which it had a right to expect of her; but the circumstance was inexorable.
Mrs.Goodman entered Paula's room immediately behind Charlotte.

Perhaps the only difference between the Paula of to-day and the Paula of last year was an accession of thoughtfulness, natural to the circumstances in any case, and more particularly when, as now, the bride's isolation made self-dependence a necessity.