Aletheawasworldly——asworldly，thatistosay，asasisterofTheobald’scouldbe。InherlettertoTheobaldshehadsaidsheknewhowmuchofhisandChristina’sthoughtsweretakenupwithanxietyfortheboy’swelfare。Aletheahadthoughtthishandsomeenough，butChristinahadwantedsomethingbetterandstronger。
“Howcansheknowhowmuchwethinkofourdarling？”shehadexclaimed，whenTheobaldshowedherhissister’sletter。“Ithink，mydear，Aletheawouldunderstandthesethingsbetterifshehadchildrenofherown。”TheleastthatwouldhavesatisfiedChristinawastohavebeentoldthatthereneveryethadbeenanyparentscomparabletoTheobaldandherself。Shedidnotfeeleasythatanallianceofsomekindwouldnotgrowupbetweenauntandnephew，andneithershenorTheobaldwantedErnesttohaveanyallies。JoeyandCharlottewerequiteasmanyalliesasweregoodforhim。Afterall，however，ifAletheachosetogoandliveatRoughborough，theycouldnotwellstopher，andmustmakethebestofit。
Inafewweeks’timeAletheadidchoosetogoandliveatRoughborough。Ahousewasfoundwithafieldandanicelittlegardenwhichsuitedherverywell。“Atanyrate。”shesaidtoherself，“Iwillhavefresheggsandflowers。”Sheevenconsideredthequestionofkeepingacow，butintheenddecidednottodoso。
Shefurnishedherhousethroughoutanew，takingnothingwhateverfromherestablishmentinGowerStreet，andbyMichaelmas——forthehousewasemptywhenshetookit——shewassettledcomfortably，andhadbeguntomakeherselfathome。
OneofMissPontifex’sfirstmoveswastoaskadozenofthesmartestandmostgentlemanlyboystobreakfastwithher。Fromherseatinchurchshecouldseethefacesoftheupper-formboys，andsoonmadeuphermindwhichofthemitwouldbebesttocultivate。