'Well, Theodora, shall I restore the umbrella as a hated object?'

'No, no,' said she; 'do what you please with it, only don't talk
nonsense about it.'

Then, when Violet was gone,--'You must not triumph over me, Percy; I
cannot bear it. If it is pride, have patience with me.'

'I should have asked you to forgive me,' said Percy, affected by the
tone of humility.

'No, no, indeed!' said Theodora, smiling; 'but I warn you, my serpent
is dealt with more safely by treading on it than by irritating it,' and
there was an indignant gleam in her dark eye. 'Now I am going to tell my
aunt.'

'I would wish you well through it; but I believe you are eager for the
battle. Only let me say one thing, Theodora--be forbearing, or you will
be fostering the enemy.'

'I can deal with her,' said Theodora.

But she was met in a manner she had not expected. Mrs. Nesbit beckoned
her to her side, laid her hand on hers, and peered up in her face with
witch-like eyes, that disconcerted her usually ready speech, and called
up a blush.

'I see,' said Mrs. Nesbit. 'I do not blame you for the fault of your
father and brother. I knew how it would be.'

'Has mamma told you?' said Theodora. 'Papa promised that I should be the
first to tell!'

'Your mamma does not know what will mortify her so extremely.'

'Then how have you heard it?'

'I have seen it. I knew what you had to tell from the instant you
entered. And your father has given you his consent?' raising her hand,
as if to say, 'I give up all hopes of him.'

'Yes, he highly approves.'

Here Lady Martindale came into the room.

'You need not be vexed, my dear,' began Mrs. Nesbit. 'It will not be
made public, and there will be no harm done.'

'What will not, dear aunt? you alarm me.'

'This foolish affair into which Lord Martindale and John have drawn this
poor child.'

'Aunt! aunt!' cried Theodora, 'you do not know what you say. It is of
my own free will--uninfluenced. I would choose him, and hold fast to him
through worlds of opposition.'

'Yes, yes; we understand all that,' said Mrs. Nesbit, with a
contemptuous accent; 'but as it cannot be at once, you will soon have
enough of that overbearing temper. At twenty, there is plenty of time to
get over such an affair, and form a more suitable connection.'

'Never!' cried Theodora.

'What, my dear!' said astonished Lady Martindale. 'You engaged, and you
have not told me!'

'Only since yesterday, mamma. He spoke to papa on