CHAPTER XXV. THE WEST WIND BLOWS.

forfurtherwork. Williamandshefoundplentytotalkabout.Theyhadadozentopicsincommon—interestingtothem,unimportanttotherestoftheworld.Theytookasimilarinterestinanimals,birds,insects,andplantstheyheldsimilardoctrinesabouthumanitytothelowercreation,andhadasimilarturnforminuteobservationonpointsofnaturalhistory.Thenestandproceedingsofsomeground-bees,whichhadburrowedintheturfunderanoldcherry-tree,wasonesubjectofinterestthehauntsofcertainhedge-sparrows,andthewelfareofcertainpearlyeggsandcallowfledglings,another. HadChambers'sJournalexistedinthosedays,itwouldcertainlyhaveformedMissHelstone'sandFarren'sfavouriteperiodical.Shewouldhavesubscribedforit,andtohimeachnumberwoulddulyhavebeenlentbothwouldhaveputimplicitfaithandfoundgreatsavourinitsmarvellousanecdotesofanimalsagacity. Thisisadigression,butitsufficestoexplainwhyCarolinewouldhavenootherhandthanWilliam'stoguideherchair,andwhyhissocietyandconversationsufficedtogiveinteresttohergarden-airings. Mrs.Pryor,walkingnear,wonderedhowherdaughtercouldbesomuchateasewitha"manofthepeople."Shefounditimpossibletospeaktohimotherwisethanstiffly.Shefeltasifagreatgulflaybetweenhercasteandhis,andthattocrossitormeethimhalf-waywouldbetodegradeherself.ShegentlyaskedCaroline,"Areyounotafraid,mydear,toconversewiththatpersonsounreservedly?Hemaypresume,andbecometroublesomelygarrulous." "Williampresume,mamma?Youdon'tknowhim.Heneverpresumes.Heisaltogethertooproudandsensitivetodoso.Williamhasveryfinefeelings." AndMrs.Pryorsmiledscepticallyatthena?venotionofthatrough-handed,rough-headed,fustian-cladclownhaving"finefeelings." Farren,forhispart,showedMrs.Pryoronlyaverysulkybrow.Heknewwhenhewasmisjudged,andwasapttoturnunmanageablewithsuchasfailedtogivehimhisdue. TheeveningrestoredCarolineentirelytohermother,andMrs.Pryorlikedtheeveningforthen,alonewithherdaughter,nohumanshadowcamebetweenherandwhatsheloved.Duringthedayshewouldhaveherstiffdemeanourandcoolmoments,aswasherwont.BetweenherandMr.Helstoneaveryrespectfulbutmostrigidlyceremoniousintercoursewaskeptup.Anythinglikefamiliaritywouldhavebredcontemptatonceinoneorboththesepersonagesbutbydintofstrictcivilityandwell-maintaineddistancetheygotonverysmoothly. TowardstheservantsMrs.Pryor'sbearingwasnotuncourteous,butshy,freezing,ungenial.Perhapsitwasdiffidenceratherthanpridewhichmadeherappearsohaughtybut,aswastobeexpected,FannyandElizafailedtomakethedistinction,andshewasunpopularwiththemaccordingly.Shefelttheeffectproduceditrenderedherattimesdissatisfiedwithherselfforfaultsshecouldnothelp,andwithallelsedejected,chill,andtaciturn. ThismoodchangedtoCaroline'sinfluence,andtothatinfluencealone.Thedependentfondnessofhernursling,thenaturalaffectio