wered.

And during the whole of that long evening the conversation between
them did not reach a more interesting pitch than that.

"She must think me an utter fool," said Felix to himself, as he sat
staring at the fire. "How well her brother would have made the most
of such an opportunity!" And then he went to bed, by no means in a
good humour with himself.

On the next morning he again met her at breakfast, but on that
occasion there was no possible opportunity for private conversation.
The judge was all alive, and talked enough for the whole party during
the twenty minutes that was allowed to them before they started
for Alston. "And now we must be off. We'll say half-past seven for
dinner, my dear." And then they also made their journey to Alston.

CHAPTER LXVI

SHOWING HOW MISS FURNIVAL TREATED HER LOVERS

It is a great thing for young ladies to live in a household in which
free correspondence by letter is permitted. "Two for mamma, four for
Amelia, three for Fanny, and one for papa." When the postman has left
his budget they should be dealt out in that way, and no more should
be said about it,--except what each may choose to say. Papa's letter
is about money of course, and interests nobody. Mamma's contain the
character of a cook and an invitation to dinner, and as they interest
everybody, are public property. But Fanny's letters and Amelia's
should be private; and a well-bred mamma of the present day scorns
even to look at the handwriting of the addresses. Now in Harley
Street things were so managed that nobody did see the handwriting
of the addresses of Sophia's letters till they came into her own
hand,--that is, neither her father nor her mother did so. That both
Spooner and Mrs. Ball examined them closely is probable enough.

This was well for her now, for she did not wish it to be known as yet
that she had accepted an offer from Lucius Mason, and she did wish
to have the privilege of receiving his letters. She fancied that she
loved him. She told herself over and over again that she did so. She
compared him within her own mind to Augustus Staveley, and always
gave the preference to Lucius. She liked Augustus also, and could
have accepted him as well, had it been the way of the world in
England for ladies to have two accepted lovers. Such is not the
way of the world in England, and she therefore had been under the
necessity of choosing one. She had taken the better of the two, she
declared to h