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"I did hear, too, that there was a time when sermon-making was

not so palatable to you as it seems to be at present; that you

actually declared your resolution of never taking orders, and

that the business had been compromised accordingly."

"You did! and it was not wholly without foundation. You may

remember what I told you on that point, when first we talked of

it."

They were now almost at the door of the house, for she had walked

fast to get rid of him; and unwilling, for her sister's sake, to

provoke him, she only said in reply, with a good-humoured

smile,--

"Come, Mr. Wickham, we are brother and sister, you know. Do not

let us quarrel about the past. In future, I hope we shall be

always of one mind."

She held out her hand: he kissed it with affectionate gallantry,

though he hardly knew how to look, and they entered the house.

CHAPTER LIII.