The next morning, while Stephen was dressing, he slowly reviewed the events of the previous day, and took several resolutions.

If Mrs.White could have had the faintest conception of what was passing in her son's mind, while he sat opposite to her at breakfast, so unusually cheerful and talkative, she would have been very unhappy.

But she, too, had had a season of reflection this morning, and was much absorbed in her own plans.
She heartily regretted having shown so much ill-feeling in regard to Mercy; and she had resolved to atone for it in some way, if she could.
Above all, she had resolved, if possible, to banish from Stephen's mind the idea that she was jealous of Mercy or hostile towards her.

She had common sense enough to see that to allow him to recognize this feeling on her part was to drive him at once into a course of manoeuvring and concealment.

She flattered herself that it was with a wholly natural and easy air that she began her plan of operations by remarking,-- "Mrs.Philbrick seems to be very fond of her mother, does she not, Stephen ?" "Yes, very," answered Stephen, indifferently.
"Mrs.Carr is quite an old woman.