"You are mistaken, dear Helen," said Mrs. Glentworth, "very much mistaken in your conclusions, as Isabella has since then known to her sorrow, but not in your assertions; for dearly, indeed, did you all love me and cheer me on my thorny path: you indeed shared it, dear Mary. It was curious to hear mamma blame you for growing plain, and me for being plain. Of course, we could not help it in either case, and should have been pitied, not blamed."
"She used to say I could, and be, therefore, the more severe in her remarks upon me, but it is better for us both to forget them, Isabella," said Mary.
"Very true, dear Mary, and we must also forget all in my history which shews my error as to my married life, painting it all sunshine. I wish never to draw on their sympathies, but I can well understand Helen's distress, and must try to relieve it as soon as possible; how can we manage?"
"Count Riccardini will do it by getting a banker's order, payable in London; but I confess myself much more uneasy about mamma than Helen, whom Louisa can always help with a trifle. Lady Anne's income is so well known, nobody will lend her money, nor can one wish they should, as there is no saying how they could be repaid. I am sure things are bad with her, for there are no letters from her, which is a sign she is very poor."
"In that case, she would have written to ask for money, I think."
