tone of horror and
indignation--nay, of apprehension.

'O mother--I didn't mean that! But I can't get to believe it. You,
little mother mine, you that are so timid and bashful and quiet. That
you--you should have done such a thing.'

'Nuttie, my dear, can't you understand that such a thing would make me
quiet? I am always feeling when I see people, or they bring their
daughters here. "If they only knew--"'

'No, no, no! They would still see you were the sweetest dear. But
tell me all about it. How very much in love you must have been!' said
Nuttie, a magnificent vision of a young sailor with curly hair and open
throat rising before her.

'I think I was more frightened than in love,' faintly said Mrs.
Egremont. 'At least I didn't know it was love, I thought he was only
kind to me.'

'But you liked it?' said Ursula magisterially.

'I liked it, oh, I liked it! It gave me a feeling such as nothing else
ever did, but I never thought of its being love, he was so much older.'

'Older!' exclaimed Nuttie, much taken aback. 'Oh! as old as Mr.
Dutton?'

'Mr. Dutton is thirty-six, I think. Yes, he was older than that.'

'Mother, how could you?' For to be older than Mr. Dutton seemed to the
youthful fancy to be near decrepitude; but she added, 'I suppose he was
very noble, and had done great things.'

'He was the grandest gentleman I ever saw, and had such, a manner,'
said the mother, passing over the latter suggestion. 'Anyway, I never
thought what it all meant--all alone with the children as I was--till I
found people looking at me, and laughing at me, and then I heard Lady
de Lyonnais and Mr. Egremont were coming down, very angry, to send me
away. I ought, I know it now, to have waited, for they would have
written to my aunt. But I was horribly frightened, and I couldn't bear
to think of never seeing him again, and he came and comforted me, and
said he would take me to Mrs. Houghton, the kind lady who was staying
in the Ninon, and they would make it all square for me--and then--oh!
it was very sweet--but I never knew that we were sailing away to Jersey
to be married! I knew it was very dreadful without any one's leave,
but it was so noble of him to take the poor little governess and defend
her, and it wasn't as if my mother had been alive. I didn't know Aunt
Ursel then as I did afterwards. And Mrs. Houghton said there was
nothing else to be done.'

'O don't leave off, mother. Do tell me. How lon