"And I am sure I hope you will," continued Mr. Leslie. And then the
subject was allowed to drop; for Mr. Leslie knew that it was not
always easy to talk to Miss Jack on such matters.
Miss Jack was a person in whom I think we may say that the good
predominated over the bad. She was often morose, crabbed, and self-
opinionated. but then she knew her own imperfections, and forgave
those she loved for evincing their dislike of them. Maurice Cumming
was often inattentive to her, plainly showing that he was worried by
her importunities and ill at ease in her company. But she loved her
nephew with all her heart; and though she dearly liked to tyrannise
over him, never allow herself to be really angry with him, though he
so frequently refused to bow to her dictation. And she loved Marian
Leslie also, though Marian was so sweet and lovely and she herself so
harsh and ill-favoured. She loved Marian, though Marian would often
be impertinent. She forgave the flirting, the light-heartedness, the
love of amusement. Marian, she said to herself, was young and
pretty. She, Miss Jack, had never known Marian's temptation.
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