But to-day her heart was full of far more serious cares than Elizabeth's ill temper.

She replied, composedly-- "I have not heard that either of my sisters is displeased with you.
What they want to talk to you about is for your own good.

We are thinking of making a great change.

We intend to leave Stowbury and going to live in London." "Going to live in London!" Now, quick as her tact and observation were--her heart taught her these things--Elizabeth's head was a thorough Saxon one, slow to receive impressions.

It was a family saying, that nothing was so hard as to put a new idea into Elizabeth except to get it out again.
For this reason Hilary preferred paving the way quietly, before startling her with the sudden intelligence of their contemplated change.
"Well, what do you say to the plan ?" asked she, good-humoredly.
"I dunnot like it at all," was the brief gruff answer of Elizabeth Hand.
Now it was one of Miss Hilary's doctrines that no human being is good for much unless he or she has what is called "a will of one's own." Perhaps this, like many another creed, was with her the result of circumstances.