s, and I don't like poky rooms."
With that she fell into a reverie, which was only interrupted by the
arrival of Jael and her boxes.

Jael helped her unpack, and dress. There was no lack of conversation
between these two, but most of it turned upon nothings. One topic, that
might have been interesting to the readers of this tale, was avoided
by them both. They had now come to have a high opinion of each other's
penetration, and it made them rather timid and reserved on that subject.

Grace was dressed, and just going down, when she found she wanted a pin.
She asked Jael for one.

Jael looked aghast. "Oh, miss, I'd rather you would take one, in spite
of me."

"Well, so I will. There!" And she whipped one away from the bosom of
Jael's dress.

"Mind, I never gave it you."

"No. I took it by brute force."

"I like you too well to give you a pin."

"May I venture to inquire what would be the consequence?"

"Ill luck, you may be sure. Heart-trouble, they do say."

"Well, I'm glad to escape that so easily. Why, this is the temple of
superstition, and you are the high-Priestess. How shall I ever get on
at dinner, without you? I know I shall do something to shock Mr. Raby.
Perhaps spill the very salt. I generally do."

"Ay, miss, at home. But, dear heart, you won't see any of them nasty
little salt-cellars here, that some crazy creature have invented to
bring down bad luck. You won't spill the salt here, no fear: but don't
ye let any body help you to it neither, if he helps you to salt, he
helps you to sorrow."

"Oh, does he? Then it is fortunate nobody ever does help anybody to
salt. Well, yours is a nice creed. Why, we are all at the mercy of other
people, according to you. Say I have a rival: she smiles in my face, and
says, 'My sweet friend, accept this tribute of my esteem;' and gives me
a pinch of salt, before I know where I am. I wither on the spot; and
she sails off with the prize. Or, if there is no salt about, she comes
behind me with a pin, and pins it to my skirt, and that pierces my
heart. Don't you see what abominable nonsense it all is?"

The argument was cut short by the ringing of a tremendous bell.

Grace gave the last, swift, searching, all-comprehensive look of her sex
into the glass, and went down to the drawing-room. There she found Mr.
Raby and Mr. Coventry, who both greeted her cordially; and the next
moment dinner was announced.

"Raby Hall" was a square house, with two large low wings