eat fun when they have arrived at
years of discretion, like Mr. Cottrell; they always get you everything
you want, and are no more in earnest than you are. Then they are
always at hand to save you 'an infliction.' I always said I was
engaged to Mr. Cottrell whenever I didn't want to dance with any one
who claimed me, and if I made him a pretty speech, he would always
forgive my throwing him over. My dear Laura," continued the young lady
gravely, "an admirer of that sort is worth a good half-dozen younger
ones. But tell me a little more about the Bloxams."

"There is nothing much to tell," rejoined Laura. "The Squire is just
what you saw him--a fresh, genial, and hospitable country gentleman.
Blanche is a dear unaffected girl, a good horsewoman, and good at lawn
tennis, billiards, and all that sort of thing. Jim Bloxam is what you
see--as gay, light-hearted, and rattlepated a dragoon as any in the
service; and as for Lady Mary, she is very much better than you give
her credit for."

"Whether the big house goes or not makes a difference in our staff of
partners," observed the younger Miss Chipchase sententiously. "Let's
see: there's Captain Bloxam, Captain Braybrooke, and Mr. Sartoris--all
most eligible, don't you think so, Laura? I wonder what this other man
is like whom Blanche talked about--Lionel Beauchamp? he comes to-night."

"What, Lionel Beauchamp!" exclaimed Sylla: "do you mean to say Lionel
Beauchamp is coming to the Grange?"

"So Blanche told me this afternoon; why, do you know him?"

"Know him? yes, pretty much in the same way you know Jim Bloxam. By
the way, do you call him 'Jim'?" (The two girls nodded assent.) "Ah,
I like to ask about these things: proprieties differ in different
counties; it strikes me Fernshire is of the rigidly decorous order."

"Well," laughed Miss Chipchase, "it is past twelve; and if Todborough
Rectory is to keep its character, we must be off to bed and listen no
more to your Suffolk gabbling. It's well mamma is laid up with a cold,
or we should have been broomed off long ago."

"Very well, Laura; in revenge for that last aspersion I will tell you
nothing whatever more about Lionel Beauchamp. Only promise me one
thing: don't let out that he and I have known each other from
childhood, please don't. I do so want to see Lady Mary's face when she
hears me call him Lionel. I suspect she is inclined to think me a very
fast young woman. She shall!" and with this omino