n. "Are you
still living with Peggy Walker? An admirable woman she is, and one whom
I have the greatest respect for; but does she take good care of you?
You look thin and ill."

"I am not very well, but Peggy is everything that is kind and careful.
I have missed my sister, sadly. I hope, however, to see her soon, for
Mrs. Phillips has been so good as to ask me to spend a few weeks in
London, and Mrs. Dunn is going to spare me."

"Well, I am glad to hear it," said Miss Thomson, "for it seems to me
you want a change and a rest. Your cousin is making great alterations
at Cross Hall."

"Alterations for the better," said Elsie. "He told us about them."

"Well, I'm not clear about the allotments; but the cottages I do most
highly approve of, and I am coming upon my landlord to build me eight
or nine, after the same plan, as near as may be. The Allendale
cot-houses are very old, and I will never consent to have my workpeople
as badly lodged as they have been. If I asked for five hundred pounds
to add to the farmhouse, I would get it at once, for I am a good
tenant; but my landlord demurred at such an expenditure for cot-houses.
I think I will carry my point, however."

"You know," said Miss Rennie to Miss Thomson, "of the new neighbour you
are likely to get at Moss Tower? Mamma wants to have a talk with you
about Laura's marriage, as you know the Dalzells."

"Oh, yes, certainly, I'll call on your mother. I don't forget any of my
cousins, though they are a few times removed. But, dear me, Eliza, that
poor girl Melville looks ill; the brae she has had to climb has been
owre stey for her. I must look in on Peggy Walker, and hear what she
says about her," said Miss Thomson, as they moved into mademoiselle's
department and gave orders about Grace's frock, while Miss Wilson
looked over dresses, made and unmade, and received hints and
suggestions from any quarter she could.

Elsie wished that she could be out of the establishment before Miss
Wilson's wedding order came to it; so she was very glad when, after a
longer day than usual, in which she had exercised her utmost skill for
Miss Thomson's behoof, and certainly pleased herself with her work, she
returned home and found Mr. Brandon sitting talking in his usual
cheerful way to Peggy and the old man.

Dr. Phillips had wished that Elsie should join her sister before she
left Derbyshire, and spend a week or so at his house, for he had been
so delighted with Jane that he had