against your coming to Epsom!' said Jane, interrupting
her sister.

'No; my brother and I have been proposing to go, independently; so as to
be able to come home at our own time.'

'You had better be satisfied with that, Georgina,' said Jane. 'We shall
find ourselves together at the stand, and it will spare a few dangerous
hysterics.'

'I shall do nothing underhand,' said Theodora. 'I shall proclaim my
intention of joining you; but I doubt, because Lady Fotheringham is
coming to London.'

'Her ladyship herself?' cried Georgina. 'What, in the name of wonder,
brings her from her antediluvian hall?'

'She brings her son for advice.'

'We can say no more,' said Jane. 'Percy's expectations would be ruined
if the good lady found his intended concerned in such naughty doings.
She must stay at home.'

'To entertain Pelham!' cried Mrs. Finch, in a paroxysm of laughing, of
her most unreal kind.

'Let me give you one piece of advice,' said Jane. 'Don't make yourself
too great a favourite, as I unwittingly did, or you will have no
cessation of "I have a pony; it can trot; it can canter."'

'I have not decided.'

'No,' said Jane, 'you cannot do it. We know Lady Fotheringham too well
to ask you to lose your place in her regard for our sake. Probably this
is a most important visit, and all may depend on her first impressions.'

'I don't depend on her.'

'Ah! you don't understand. She is the managing partner, and I have
little doubt this is only an excuse for coming to inspect you. It is
quite in their power, you know, to do the only rational thing under the
circumstances--make an eldest son of Percy, and set poor Pelham aside,
with enough to make him happy.

'I do believe that must be it!' cried Georgina. 'She would be a dear old
woman if she would only do it!'

'And you see it would be fatal for Theodora to appear as a fashionable
young lady, given to races, and the like vanities.'

'I shall seem nothing but what I am.'

'She would find Mrs. Martindale sighing at her inability to keep you out
of bad company. So sorry to trust you with us. She did her utmost. No,
no, Theodora; you must stay at home, and the good lady will be charmed.'

'I do not intend to be turned from my course.'

'No! Now, Jane, you should not have spoken in that way,' said her
sister. 'You will only make Theodora more resolved to come with us; and,
indeed, I had rather she did not, if it is to do her any harm.'

'I shall leave you to settl