e very often," she replied. "But
I seldom leave home; Mr. Vernor always appears to dislike parting with
me."

"I can easily conceive that," returned I; "nay, although, in common with
your other friends, I am a sufferer by his monopoly, I can almost pardon
him for yielding to so strong a temptation."

"I wish I could flatter myself that the very complimentary construction
you put upon it were the true one," replied Miss Saville, blushing
slightly; "but I am afraid I should be deceiving myself if I were to
imagine my society were at all indispensable to my guardian. I believe
if you were to question him on the subject you would learn that his
system is based rather on the Turkish notion, that, in order to keep a
woman out of mischief, you must shut her up."

"Really, Miss Saville," exclaimed Coleman, who had entered the room in
time to overhear her speech, "I am shocked to find you comparing your
respectable and ~257~~ revered guardian to a heathen Turk, and
Frank Fairlegh, instead of reproving you for it, aiding, abetting,
encouraging, and, to speak figuratively, patting you on the back."

"I'm sure, Freddy," interrupted Mrs. Coleman, who had been aroused
from one of her customary fits of absence by the last few words, "Mr.
Fairlegh was doing nothing of the sort; he knows better than to think
of such a thing. And if he didn't, do you suppose I should sit here
and allow him to take such liberties? But I believe it's all your
nonsense--and where you got such strange ideas I'm sure I can't tell;
not out of Mrs. Trimmer's _Sacred History_, I'm certain, though you used
to read it with me every Sunday afternoon when you were a good little
boy, trying to look out of the window all the time, instead of paying
proper attention to your books."

During the burst of laughter which followed this speech, and in which
Miss Saville, after an ineffectual struggle to repress the inclination,
out of respect to Mrs. Coleman, was fain to join, dinner was announced,
and Coleman pairing off with the young lady, whilst I gave my arm to the
old one, we proceeded to the dining-room.

CHAPTER XXXIII -- WOMAN'S A RIDDLE

"Let mirth and music sound the dirge of care,
But ask thou not if happiness be there."
_The Lord of the Isles_.

"And here she came...
And sang to me the whole Of those three stanzas."
_The Talking Oak._

"Yet this is also true, that, long befor