seen
in."

"But, my dear Cecilia," said Lady Atherley, looking up from the work
which she pursued beside a shaded lamp, "why did not Parkins pack it up
herself?"

"Oh, because she had some shopping of her own to do this forenoon, so
she asked me to finish packing for her, and of course I said I would;
and I promised to try and forget nothing; and then, after all, I went
and left the bodice in a drawer. It is provoking! The fact is, James
spoils me so when he is at home. He remembers everything for me, and
when I do forget anything he never scolds me."

"Ah, I expect he has a nice time of it," said Atherley. "However, it is
not my fault. I warned him how it would be when he was engaged. I said:
'I hope, for one thing, you can live on air, old chap for you will get
nothing more for dinner if you trust to Cissy to order it.'"

"I don't believe you said anything of the kind," observed Lady Atherley.

"No, dear Jane; of course he did not. He was very much pleased with our
marriage. He said James was the only man he ever knew who was fit to
marry me."

"So he was," agreed Atherley; "the only man whose temper could stand all
he would have to put up with. We had good proof of that even on the
wedding-day, when you kept him kicking his heels for half an hour in the
church while you were admiring the effect of your new finery in the
glass."

"What!" cried Lady Atherley incredulously.

"What really did happen, Jane," said Mrs. de Noel, "was that when Edith
Molyneux was trying on my wreath before a looking-glass over the
fireplace, she unfortunately dropped it into the grate, and got it in
such a mess. It took us a long time to get the black off, and some of
the sprays were so spoiled, we had to take them out. And it was very
unpleasant for Edith, as Aunt Henrietta was extremely angry, because the
wreath was her present, you know, and it was very expensive; and as to
Parkins, poor dear, she was so vexed she positively cried. She said I
was the most trying lady she had ever waited upon. She often says so. I
am afraid it is true."

"Not a doubt of it," said Atherley.

"Do not believe him, Cecilia," said Lady Atherley: "he thinks there is
no one in the world like you."

"Fortunately for the world," said Atherley; "any more of the sort would
spoil it. But I am not going to stay here to be bullied by two women at
once. Rather than that, I will go and write letters."

He went, and soon afterwards Lady Atherley followed h