-that I know of--'

'Then I think you'd better let them alone.'

'Are you going to marry Jane Wilson?'

He coloured, and played with the mane again, but answered--'No, I think
not.'

'Then you had better let her alone.'

'She won't let me alone,' he might have said; but he only looked silly
and said nothing for the space of half a minute, and then made another
attempt to turn the conversation; and this time I let it pass; for he had
borne enough: another word on the subject would have been like the last
atom that breaks the camel's back.

I was too late for tea; but my mother had kindly kept the teapot and
muffin warm upon the hobs, and, though she scolded me a little, readily
admitted my excuses; and when I complained of the flavour of the
overdrawn tea, she poured the remainder into the slop-basin, and bade
Rose put some fresh into the pot, and reboil the kettle, which offices
were performed with great commotion, and certain remarkable comments.

'Well!--if it had been me now, I should have had no tea at all--if it had
been Fergus, even, he would have to put up with such as there was, and
been told to be thankful, for it was far too good for him; but you--we
can't do too much for you. It's always so--if there's anything
particularly nice at table, mamma winks and nods at me to abstain from
it, and if I don't attend to that, she whispers, "Don't eat so much of
that, Rose; Gilbert will like it for his supper."--I'm nothing at all.
In the parlour, it's "Come, Rose, put away your things, and let's have
the room nice and tidy against they come in; and keep up a good fire;
Gilbert likes a cheerful fire." In the kitchen--"Make that pie a large
one, Rose; I daresay the boys'll be hungry; and don't put so much pepper
in, they'll not like it, I'm sure"--or, "Rose, don't put so many spices
in the pudding, Gilbert likes it plain,"--or, "Mind you put plenty of
currants in the cake, Fergus liked plenty." If I say, "Well, mamma, I
don't," I'm told I ought not to think of myself. "You know, Rose, in all
household matters, we have only two things to consider, first, what's
proper to be done; and, secondly, what's most agreeable to the gentlemen
of the house--anything will do for the ladies."'

'And very good doctrine too,' said my mother. 'Gilbert thinks so, I'm
sure.'

'Very convenient doctrine, for us, at all events,' said I; 'but if you
would really study my pleasure, mother, you must consider your own
comfort and c