ly _in medias res_ and asked if she had seen Mrs. Cameron
lately, she replied briefly, "Yes, I called there the other day,"
and immediately changed the conversation to the troubled state of the
Continent.

Kenelm was resolved not to be so put off, and presently returned to the
charge.

"The other day you proposed an excursion to the site of the Roman villa,
and said you would ask Mrs. Cameron to be of the party. Perhaps you have
forgotten it?"

"No; but Mrs. Cameron declines. We can ask the Emlyns instead. He will
be an excellent _cicerone_."

"Excellent! Why did Mrs. Cameron decline?"

Elsie hesitated, and then lifted her clear brown eyes to his face, with
a sudden determination to bring matters to a crisis.

"I cannot say why Mrs. Cameron declined, but in declining she acted very
wisely and very honourably. Listen to me, Mr. Chillingly. You know how
highly I esteem, and how cordially I like you, and judging by what I
felt for some weeks, perhaps longer, after we parted at Tor Hadham--"
Here again she hesitated, and, with a half laugh and a slight blush,
again went resolutely on. "If I were Lily's aunt or elder sister, I
should do as Mrs. Cameron does; decline to let Lily see much more of a
young gentleman too much above her in wealth and station for--"

"Stop," cried Kenelm, haughtily, "I cannot allow that any man's wealth
or station would warrant his presumption in thinking himself above Miss
Mordaunt."

"Above her in natural grace and refinement, certainly not. But in the
world there are other considerations which, perhaps, Sir Peter and Lady
Chillingly might take into account."

"You did not think of that before you last saw Mrs. Cameron."

"Honestly speaking, I did not. Assured that Miss Mordaunt was a
gentlewoman by birth, I did not sufficiently reflect upon other
disparities."

"You know, then, that she is by birth a gentlewoman?"

"I only know it as all here do, by the assurance of Mrs. Cameron, whom
no one could suppose not to be a lady. But there are different degrees
of lady and of gentleman, which are little heeded in the ordinary
intercourse of society, but become very perceptible in questions of
matrimonial alliance; and Mrs. Cameron herself says very plainly that
she does not consider her niece to belong to that station in life from
which Sir Peter and Lady Chillingly would naturally wish their son
should select his bride. Then (holding out her hand) pardon me if I have
wounded or offende