sh forward mechanically a
conversational counter from the little store she kept always by her.
Thus when Miss Ethel spoke of the bricks that had arrived on the other
side of the privet hedge, Nanty glanced up for a second to remark in
her throaty little voice: "It is hard. That lovely garden of yours,
Miss Ethel---- But tibe and tide wait for no ban!" Then she sighed
and resumed her absorbing occupation, satisfied that she had taken her
due part in the social amenities.

This habit of using ready-made platitudes arose no doubt from laziness
of mind, as well as from the natural timidity produced by being a
nursery governess in days when such unfortunate young females hovered
ever uncertainly between basement and drawing-room. She had got into
the way then of making remarks at the luncheon table which she knew
must be correct, because they were in all the copy-books.

Now she and Laura lived very happily together, and this pleasant
feeling was intensified by the rather exaggerated adoration of the
girl's lover which such a situation is apt to produce. The little
household circled round his goings and comings, and the young mistress
of it lavished on Wilson all the family affection she had at the
disposal of a large circle, if she had been blest with one, as well as
the pure passion of a woman deeply in love.

At last Miss Ethel finished her business, closed her little notebook
and made a brisk remark about the building in the next field, because
she was always very careful not to hurt Miss Panton's feelings.

"Delightful! Delightful!" said Nanty, seeking the appropriate
conversational counter--"at least, I bean----" She paused, breathed
hard, and added with a rush: "I'm sure Mr. Wilson was deeply distressed
at being obliged to be the one to sell it. But if he had not done so,
somebody else would. Business is business," she concluded, pink to the
nose-end with the effort.

Laura's colour also rose a little. "Yes. I know Godfrey was sorry.
Only he is tremendously keen to get on, of course, and you can't
afford--I sometimes think he is too keen."

But Miss Ethel was not going to have that. It must be made plain at
once, that though _she_, herself, might run down her own second cousin,
he was the sort of man whom any girl ought to be proud to marry, even
though she did possess an agreeable sum of money at her own sole
disposal. "I have always considered Godfrey a gentleman--if that is
what you mean?" she s