I knew that Mrs.Hollingford would blame me, and I felt it hardly worth my while to defend myself.

I had quarrelled with John, and broken our engagement.

I was going to London with gayer friends.
Everything was against me; all the wrong seemed mine.

I knew that the dear old lady would say little, only look sad and disappointed, thinking in her heart that things were turning out as she had prophesied; would give me full permission to go where I pleased, and do what I pleased; would kiss and bless me; and then I should have the wide world before me.
It was a radiant May day.

A saint has said that "peace is the tranquillity of order;" and such a peace brooded over the happy farm as I crossed its sunny meadows, heard the bleating of its lambs, the lowing of its kine, met its labourers coming and going.