ful--delicious free
air, open space, view over five counties, &c. Inside, one traces
Flora's presiding genius, Hector would never have made the concern so
perfect without her help; and Blanche is no child in her own house, but
is older and more at home than Hector, so that one would take her for
the heiress, making him welcome and at ease. Not that it is like the
Grange, Blanche is furious if I remark any little unconscious imitation
or similarity--"As if we could be like Flora and George indeed!" Nor
will they. If Blanche rules, it will be unawares to herself. And
where Hector is, there will always be a genial house, overflowing with
good-humour and good-nature. He has actually kept the 1st of September
clear of shooting parties that he may take these two boys out, and give
them a thorough day's sport in his turnip-fields. "License? Nonsense,
he thought of that before, and now Aubrey may get some shooting out of
George Rivers." After such good-nature my mouth is shut, though, ay di
me, all the world and his wife are coming here on Monday evening, and
unless I borrow of Blanche, Mrs. Ernescliffe's sister will "look like
ane scrub."'

* * * * *

'September 2nd.--Train at Stoneborough, 6.30. That's the best news I
have to give. Oh, it has been a weary while to be out of sight of you
all, though it has been pleasant enough, and the finale is perfectly
brilliant. Blanche, as lady of the house, is a sight to make a sister
proud; she looks as if she were born to nothing else, and is a model of
prettiness and elegance. Hector kept coming up to me at every
opportunity to admire her. "Now, old Ethel, look at her? Doesn't she
look like a picture? I chose that gown, you know;" then again after
dinner, "Well, old Ethel, didn't it go off well? Did you ever see
anything like her? There, just watch her among the old ladies. I
can't think where she learnt it all, can you?" And it certainly was
too perfect to have been learnt. It was not the oppression that poor
dear Flora gives one by doing everything so well, as if she had
perfectly balanced what was due to herself and everybody else; it was
just Blanche, simple and ready, pleasing herself by doing what people
liked, and seeing what they did like. It was particularly pretty to see
how careful both she and Hector were not to put Leonard aside--indeed,
they make more of him than of Aubrey, who is quite able to find his own
level. Even his t