Pagina 606 di 817

In the dining-room they were soon joined by Mary and Kitty, who

had been too busily engaged in their separate apartments to make

their appearance before. One came from her books, and the other

from her toilette. The faces of both, however, were tolerably

calm; and no change was visible in either, except that the loss

of her favourite sister, or the anger which she had herself

incurred in the business, had given something more of fretfulness

than usual to the accents of Kitty. As for Mary, she was mistress

enough of herself to whisper to Elizabeth, with a countenance of

grave reflection, soon after they were seated at table,--

"This is a most unfortunate affair, and will probably be much

talked of. But we must stem the tide of malice, and pour into the

wounded bosoms of each other the balm of sisterly consolation."