l.

'To be sure, of course,' exclaimed Mrs. Swancourt; and looking up
from her own letter. 'Christopher, I quite forgot to tell you, when
I mentioned that I had seen my distant relative, Harry Knight, that I
invited him here for whatever length of time he could spare. And now he
says he can come any day in August.'

'Write, and say the first of the month,' replied the indiscriminate
vicar.

She read on, 'Goodness me--and that isn't all. He is actually the
reviewer of Elfride's book. How absurd, to be sure! I had no idea
he reviewed novels or had anything to do with the PRESENT. He is a
barrister--and I thought he only wrote in the Quarterlies. Why, Elfride,
you have brought about an odd entanglement! What does he say to you?'

Elfride had put down her letter with a dissatisfied flush on her face.
'I don't know. The idea of his knowing my name and all about me!...Why,
he says nothing particular, only this--

'"MY DEAR MADAM,--Though I am sorry that my remarks should have seemed
harsh to you, it is a pleasure to find that they have been the means of
bringing forth such an ingeniously argued reply. Unfortunately, it is
so long since I wrote my review, that my memory does not serve me
sufficiently to say a single word in my defence, even supposing there
remains one to be said, which is doubtful. You will find from a letter
I have written to Mrs. Swancourt, that we are not such strangers to each
other as we have been imagining. Possibly, I may have the pleasure of
seeing you soon, when any argument you choose to advance shall receive
all the attention it deserves."

'That is dim sarcasm--I know it is.'

'Oh no, Elfride.'

'And then, his remarks didn't seem harsh--I mean I did not say so.'

'He thinks you are in a frightful temper,' said Mr. Swancourt, chuckling
in undertones.

'And he will come and see me, and find the authoress as contemptible in
speech as she has been impertinent in manner. I do heartily wish I had
never written a word to him!'

'Never mind,' said Mrs. Swancourt, also laughing in low quiet jerks; 'it
will make the meeting such a comical affair, and afford splendid by-play
for your father and myself. The idea of our running our heads against
Harry Knight all the time! I cannot get over that.'

The vicar had immediately remembered the name to be that of Stephen
Smith's preceptor and friend; but having ceased to concern himself in
the matter he made no remark to that effect, consistently fo