She  remembered  Miss  Burne  as  a  spinster  of
thirty-four,  of  decided  views,  sure  of  the  divine
origin  of  conventions,  sure  that  disagreement
with  them  was  divided  between  precocity  and
affectation,  both  extreme  forms  of  wickedness.
From  the  little  that  Alaric  had  let  fall  it  would
appear  that  she  had  mellowed.  Perhaps  the  care
of  a  child  for  nearly  twenty  years  had  softened  her.
They  had  disagreed  always  ;  but  Emma  was
no  longer  the  inexperienced  young  wife  whom
Miss  Burne  had  found  it  so  easy  to  put  hi  the
wrong.
There  was  a  ring  at  the  bell,  and  the  maid  came
to  say  that  Miss  Burne  was  in  the  drawing-room.
"  Is  Sir  Alaric  with  her  ?  "

"  No,  ma'am."

Emma  was  puzzled.  What  had  happened  ?
However,  it  was  fortunate.
JENNY  203

"  If  Sir  Alaric  should  call,  show  him  in  here."
She  went  to  the  drawing-room,  but  even  with  hei
hand  on  the  door  she  half  drew  back,  wondering
whether  it  might  not  be  better  to  leave  Miss  Burne
in  ignorance  of  her  identity.  Then  the  need  of
explaining  Jenny,  her  position  and  her  conduct,
and  of  asseverating  her  innocence  impressed  itself
imperatively.
She  must  let  her  sister-in-law  have  the  whole
story  from  beginning  to  end.  She  was  quite  aware
that,  apart  from  the  question  of  deception,  Alaric's
aunt  would  deem  an  actress  of  any  kind — much
more  a  burlesque  actress — quite  unsuited  to  become
Alaric's  wife.  She  might  conceivably  welcome  the
duplicity  which  Jenny's  conduct  had  displayed  as
triumphant  evidence  of  bad  character.  Poor
Jenny  had  indeed  put  herself  in  a  false  light  and
done  herself  every  possible  injustice.
Pulling  herself  together,  Emma  walked  into  the
room,  and  stood  before  her  sister-in-law  awaiting
recognition.
Miss  Burne  advanced  with  a  pleasant  smile.
