. "Possibly she may take to some of the
girls or of the teachers. Anything to interest her. Friendship, love,
religion, whatever will set her nature at work. We must have headway on,
or there will be no piloting her. Action first of all, and then we will
see what to do with it."

So, when Cousin Richard came along, the Doctor, though he did not like
his looks any too well, told her father to encourage his staying for a
time. If she liked him, it was good; if she only tolerated him, it was
better than nothing.

"You know something about that nephew of yours, during these last years,
I suppose?" the Doctor said. "Looks as if he had seen life. Has a scar
that was made by a sword-cut, and a white spot on the side of his neck
that looks like a bullet-mark. I think he has been what folks call a
'hard customer.'"

Dudley Venner owned that he had heard little or nothing of him of late
years. He had invited himself, and of course it would not be decent not
to receive him as a relative. He thought Elsie rather liked having him
about the house for a while. She was very capricious,--acted as if she
fancied him one day and disliked him the next. He did not know,--but
sometimes thought that this nephew of his might take a serious liking to
Elsie. What should he do about it, if it turned out so?

The Doctor lifted his eyebrows a little. He thought there was no fear.
Elsie was naturally what they call a man-hater, and there was very little
danger of any sudden passion springing up between two such young persons.
Let him stay awhile; it gives her something to think about. So he stayed
awhile, as we have seen.

The more Mr. Richard became acquainted with the family,--that is, with
the two persons of whom it consisted,--the more favorably the idea of a
permanent residence in the mansion-house seemed to impress him. The
estate was large,--hundreds of acres, with woodlands and meadows of great
value. The father and daughter had been living quietly, and there could
not be a doubt that the property which came through the Dudleys must have
largely increased of late years. It was evident enough that they had an
abundant income, from the way in which Elsie's caprices were indulged.
She had horses and carriages to suit herself; she sent to the great city
for everything she wanted in the way of dress. Even her diamonds--and
the young man knew something about these gems--must be of considerable
value; and yet she wore them ca