Fieldhead had of late been fast growing too hot to hold them both. The suave aunt could not reconcile them; the daughters froze at the view of their quarrels. Gertrude and Isabella whispered by the hour together in their dressing-room, and became chilled with decorous dread if they chanced to be left alone with their audacious cousin. But, as I have said, a change supervened. Mr. Sympson was appeased and his family tranquillized.
The village of Nunnely has been alluded to--its old church, its forest, its monastic ruins. It had also its hall, called the priory--an older, a larger, a more lordly abode than any Briarfield or Whinbury owned; and what is more, it had its man of title--its baronet, which neither Briarfield nor Whinbury could boast. This possession--its proudest and most prized--had for years been nominal only. The present baronet, a young man hitherto resident in a distant province, was unknown on his Yorkshire estate.

They had lately been at loggerheads. The aunt could not reconcile them; the daughters froze at their quarrels, and became chilled with decorous dread if they chanced to be alone with their audacious cousin. But then a change came. Mr. Sympson was appeased and his family tranquillized.
The village of Nunnely had a hall, called the priory - an older, more lordly house than any in Briarfield or Whinbury; and what is more, it had a baronet, which neither Briarfield nor Whinbury could boast. The present baronet, a young man who had hitherto lived in a distant province, was unknown on his Yorkshire estate.
