said she, softening her tones, "his daughters, poor things, will you not allow that, innocent as they are, they might claim our pity? Highly educated, brought up also in morality and virtue, might they not merit something at our hands?"
The taciturn air of disdain that passed over the brow of Mr. Arden as his wife endeavoured to raise her nieces in his estimation was rebuke sufficient, and caused her in the next moment to add, "However, blameless as may be my brother's children, you are doubtless perfectly right in your judgment, Mr. Arden, of how I should conduct myself towards them, and I shall therefore be guided entirely by your decision."
Shortly after this conversation, the season for the Bath festivities having elapsed, amongst the votaries of fashion taking their flight to London were Mr. and Mrs. Arden. The General having taken his house at Bath for a year, the term had not yet expired; but as the period appointed for the Inquiry was drawing near, he again took leave of his family, to pursue the route leading to the place of his embarkation for Ireland.
In the meanwhile, Mrs. De Brooke, though forsaken by the worldly and all such as followed in the train of wealth and ostentation, was yet rewarded by retaining a few of those congenial friends
