he has such original ideas.
Really, poor dear Mr. Carlyon was quite cast into the shade this
evening."

"Oh, there I differ from you. Mr. Carlyon is original too, and can hold
his own with any one;" and Elizabeth spoke with some warmth, almost
with asperity, and her sister looked at her rather anxiously.

"Dear Betty, I meant no disparagement of Mr. Carlyon. He is such a
favourite with all of us that we are not likely to undervalue him. It
struck me once or twice that he was not quite in his usual spirits."

"He is a little worried about his father," returned Elizabeth. "He
thinks Theo does not look after him properly. But we were talking about
Mr. Herrick, were we not?"

Elizabeth was not quite herself. Something in Dinah's speech had
ruffled her. She was a little quick-tempered and impulsive; but she
soon recovered herself.

"Does it strike you, Die, that Mr. Herrick is quite aware of his own
cleverness, and that he rather prides himself on being original and out
of the common. Oh, I mean nothing unkind," as Dinah looked rather grave
at this. "I like him exceedingly. I should be an ungrateful wretch if I
did not," she added to herself. "He is a good man, I am sure of that;
and," with a merry laugh, "I am also sure that to know him will be a
liberal education."

Though Dinah joined in the laugh, she was evidently discomposed by her
sister's observation. "I am afraid you think him conceited," she said
regretfully.

"Oh dear, no; a little egotistical, perhaps--I might even say a little
opinionative; but then we all have our faults, and I fancy he will
improve greatly on acquaintance. When I know him better, Die, I shall
delight in arguing with him. There is no use arguing with Mr. Carlyon,
he always gives in to me at once; but Mr. Herrick would fight it out to
the bitter end."

Dinah shook her head at this lukewarm praise. Elizabeth's opinion was
of the utmost moment to her. She relied on it with a simple faith that
astonished strangers. Malcolm was right in suspecting that the younger
sister was the moving spirit of the house. Elizabeth's vigorous mind,
her clear insight, and strong common-sense, made her quick to judge and
discriminate. As Dinah knew, she very seldom made a mistake in her
opinion of a person. Dinah's charitable nature was rather prone to
overestimate her friends and acquaintances--"all her geese were swans."
As Elizabeth often said, when she cared for any one she simply could
not see their