s I should, and that is past hope."

"Your home is with your uncle," affirmed Rachel.

"Yes," she said, mournfully, "dear Littleworthy was too happy to last.
It broke itself up by its own charms--all married and gone, and the last
rose of summer in my poor person must float away. Jane wants her mother
and not me, and my uncle will submit to me as cheerfully as to other
necessary evils. It is not myself that I fear for; I shall be very happy
with the dear uncle, but it will be a dreadful overthrow to his habits."

"I do not see why it need be," said Rachel.

"What! two old bachelors with a young lady turned in on them! And the
housekeeper--think of her feelings!"

"I do not think you need be uneasy, my dear," said Fanny. "Your brother
is convinced that it will be the greatest pleasure and comfort to Mr.
Clare to have you; and though there may be difficulties at first, I am
sure anybody must be the happier for having you," and she caressed the
upturned face, which responded warmly, but with a sigh.

"Alick is no judge! He is the child of the house, and my uncle and Mr.
Lifford don't feel complete without him. My uncle is as fond of me as
can be, and he and I could get on beautifully, but then Mr. Lifford is
impracticable."

"Impracticable?" said Rachel, taking up the long word. "He objects to
your exerting yourself in the parish. I know what that is."

"Pray, Rachel," said Fanny, imploringly, "pray don't any anything
against him! I am very sorry he has annoyed you, but I do like him."

"Oh, does he play croquet!" cried Bessie.

"I gather," said Rachel, in her impressive tone, a little disappointed,
"that by impracticable you mean one who will not play croquet."

"You have hit it!" laughed Bessie. "Who will neither play at croquet,
nor let one work except in his way. Well, there are hopes for you. I
cure the curates of every cure I come near, except, of course, the cure
that touches me most nearly. The shoemaker's wife goes the worst shod!
I'll tame yours."

"My dear, I can't have poor Mr. Touchett made game of."

"I won't make game of him, dear Lady Temple, only make him play a game."

"But you said Alick did not approve," said Fanny, with the dimmest
possible ideas of what croquet was, and believing it a wicked flirtation
trap that figured in "Punch."

"Oh, that's fudge on Master Alick's part! Just the remains of his old
miseries, poor fellow. What he wants is love! Now he'll meet his fate
some of these