sidered that he had amply fulfilled his responsibilities in
christening his daughter Anastasia, a name which Debrett shows to have
been borne for generations by ladies of the Blandamer family; and,
having given so striking a proof of affection, he started off on one of
those periodic wanderings which were connected with his genealogical
researches, and was not seen again in Cullerne for a lustre.

For many years afterwards Martin showed but little interest in the
child. He came back to Cullerne at intervals; but was always absorbed
in his efforts to establish a right to the nebuly coat, and content to
leave the education and support of Anastasia entirely to his sister. It
was not till his daughter was fifteen that he exercised any paternal
authority; but, on his return from a long absence about that period, he
pointed out to Miss Joliffe, senior, that she had shamefully neglected
her niece's education, and that so lamentable a state of affairs must be
remedied at once. Miss Joliffe most sorrowfully admitted her
shortcomings, and asked Martin's forgiveness for her remissness. Nor
did it ever occur to her to plead in excuse that the duties of a
lodging-house, and the necessity of providing sustenance for herself and
Anastasia, made serious inroads on the time that ought, no doubt, to
have been devoted to education; or that the lack of means prevented her
from engaging teachers to supplement her own too limited instruction.
She had, in fact, been able to impart to Anastasia little except
reading, writing and arithmetic, some geography, a slight knowledge of
Miss Magnall's questions, a wonderful proficiency with the needle, an
unquenchable love of poetry and fiction, a charity for her neighbours
which was rare enough in Cullerne, and a fear of God which was sadly
inconsistent with the best Blandamer traditions.

The girl was not being brought up as became a Blandamer, Martin had
said; how was she to fill her position when she became the Honourable
Anastasia? She must learn French, not such rudiments as Miss Joliffe
had taught her, and he travestied his sister's "Doo, dellah,
derlapostrof, day" with a laugh that flushed her withered cheeks with
crimson, and made Anastasia cry as she held her aunt's hand under the
table; not _that_ kind of French, but something that would really pass
muster in society. And music, she _must_ study that; and Miss Joliffe
blushed again as she thought very humbly of some elementary duets in