Her sister, of course, shares in Henry's prejudices against the Wildmeres, and they would influence Madge adversely.

All handsome girls are jealous of each other, and, perhaps, if what I had so naturally hoped and expected had proved true, I should have had more sisterly counsel and opposition than would have been agreeable.

Objections now would be in poor taste, to say the least.

If I'm not much mistaken I can speak my mind to Stella Wildmere before many days pass; and, woman-nature being such as it is, it may be just as well that I am not too intimate with a sister who, after all, is not my sister.

Stella might not see it in the light that I should;" and so he came down at last, prepared to adapt himself very philosophically to the new order of things.
"The world moves and changes," he soliloquized, smilingly, "and we must move on and change with it." He found Mr.and Mrs.Muir, with Madge and the children, ready for church, and told them, laughingly, to "remember him if they did not think him past praying for." During his breakfast he recalled the fact that Madge was uncommonly well dressed.