e been caught up so quickly. If
the Tinleys got possession of her, the defection of Mr. Pericles might be
counted on, and the display of a phenomenon would be lost to them. They
decided to go down to Wilson's farm that very day, and forestall their
rivals by having her up to Brookfield. The idea of doing this had been in
a corner of their minds all the morning: it seemed now the most sensible
plan in the world. It was patronage, in its right sense. And they might
be of great service to her, by giving a proper elevation and tone to her
genius; while she might amuse them, and their guests, and be let off, in
fact, as a firework for the nonce. Among the queenly cases of women who
are designing to become the heads of a circle (if I may use the term), an
accurate admeasurement of reciprocal advantages can scarcely be expected
to rank; but the knowledge that an act, depending upon us for execution,
is capable of benefiting both sides, will make the proceeding appear so
unselfish, that its wisdom is overlooked as well as its motives. The
sisters felt they were the patronesses of the little obscure genius whom
they longed for to illumine their household, before they knew her name.
Cornet Wilfrid Pole must have chuckled mightily to see them depart on
their mission. These ladies, who managed everybody, had themselves been
very cleverly managed. It is doubtful whether the scheme to surprise and
delight Mr. Pericles would have actuated the step they took, but for the
dread of seeing the rapacious Tinleys snatch up their lawful prey. The
Tinleys were known to be quite capable of doing so. They had, on a
particular occasion, made transparent overtures to a celebrity belonging
to the Poles, whom they had first met at Brookfield: could never have
hoped to have seen had they not met him at Brookfield; and girls who
behaved in this way would do anything. The resolution was taken to steal
a march on them; nor did it seem at all odd to people naturally so
hospitable as the denizens of Brookfield, that the stranger of yesterday
should be the guest of to-day. Kindness of heart, combined with a great
scheme in the brain, easily put aside conventional rules.

"But we don't know her name," they said, when they had taken the advice
of the gentlemen on what they had already decided to do: all excepting
Mr. Pericles, for whom the surprise was in store.

"Belloni--Miss Belloni," said Wilfrid.

"Are you sure? How do you know--?"

"She told Laura