Kendal knew what she was going
to say, and said it, and it was worth hearing, and he laughed in Aunt
Maria's face, and told her not to make so many bites at a cherry.'
'He must have been beside himself,' said Albinia, in a bewilderment
of consternation, but Mr. Kendal's return put a stop to all, for the
sisters never told tales before him, and she would not bring the
subject under his notice until she should be better informed. His
suffering was too great, his wrath too stern, to be excited without
serious cause; but she spent a wakeful, anxious night, revolving all
imaginable evils into which the boy could have fallen, and perplexing
herself what measures to take, feeling all the more grieved and bound
to him by the preference that, even in this dreadful mood, he had
expressed for her. She fell into a restless sleep in the morning,
from which she wakened so late as to have no time to question Gilbert
before breakfast. On coming down, she found that he had not made his
appearance, and had sent word that he had a bad headache, and wanted
no breakfast. His father, who had made a visit of inspection, said
he thought it was passing off, smiling as he observed upon Mrs.
Meadows's mince-pie suppers and home-made wine.
Lucy said nothing, but glanced knowingly at her sister and at
Albinia, from neither of whom did she get any response.
Albinia did not dare to take any measures till Mr.
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