14 MAY-FAIR DAY AND

however, did not hear what was said. It was a long,
sturmy day ; but, like all other days, it came to an end ;
and Joanna, who in the course of it said that Allen
had not in truth shown much real love for her, and
could soon find another wife for his new house and
furniture, was right ; for, within a month of that day,
he married a young lady of Lichfield ; and this, his
mother and sister took care to say, was the best day's
work he ever did.

All this seemed easy enough for Allen ; he suffered,
apparently, nothing. Joanna, on the contrary, suf-
fered much; she had loved sincerely and with her
whole soul, and she threw herself now on the kind
affections, and loving, though clouded heart of poor
Dorothy for consolation. Nor was she deceived.
Dorothy roused herself from her lethargy, and forgot
hér own sorrows in alleviating those of her sister.
This was the really cementing bond between them.
Each bore the other’s burden, and felt how good
sympathy was for a wounded heart. The reserve on
the part of Dorothy gradually gave place to confidence
and openness, and, in proportion as she came to speak
of her morbid unhappiness, it left her. One of her
greatest trials was to allow herself to be seen ; and,
for this reason, she could not be induced to go out.
It was quite natural, perhaps, for she had been
reckoned very pretty, and had been greatly admired
by all the young men of the neighbourhood ; and now,
though she could not see her face, she knew that she
had become very plain. Great, therefore, was the
good Joanna’s delight, when one fine evening she
said, suddenly,

“Tie that thick veil of which you have spoken on
my bonnet, Joanna, and take me to Bramshall Wood.