deed. I can't say that there's anything to blame her for in
that. She dresses very handsomely, but always plain. No; what I was
going to say is, that perhaps for a woman of her age--she is a little
too fond of gentlemen's attention."

"Caroline told me that she was the most confirmed old maid she
knew--an old maid who gloried in being an old maid."

"I don't know about that, my dear; but if a certain gentleman were
to ask her, I don't think she'd glory in it much longer. But she's a
very nice person, and you'll like her very much."

Miss Baker did go up to town, leaving Adela to Miss Todd's
hospitality. She did go up, but in doing so resolved to return as
soon as possible. Sir Lionel was now in the Paragon nearly every
other day. To be sure, he did generally call in Montpellier Terrace
on the alternate days. But then there was a reason for that. They had
to talk about George and Caroline. What possible reason could there
be for his going to the Paragon?

Adela was rather frightened when she found herself left at Miss
Todd's lodgings; though that lady's manner to her was not such as
need have inspired much awe.

"Now, my dear," she said, "don't mind me in the least. Do just
whatever you like. If I only knew what you did like, you should have
it if I could get it. What are you fond of now? Shall I ask some
young people here to-night?"

"Oh, no, Miss Todd; not for me. I have never been much in society,
and certainly do not wish for it at present."

"Well, society is not a bad thing. You don't play cards, I suppose?"

"I don't know one card from another."

"You'd just suit Mr. O'Callaghan then. Are you fond of young
clergymen? There's one here might just suit you. All the young ladies
are dying for him."

"Then pray don't let me interfere with them, Miss Todd."

"Perhaps you like officers better. There are heaps of them here. I
don't know where they come from, and they never seem to have anything
to do. The young ladies, however--those who don't run after Mr.
O'Callaghan--seem to think them very nice."

"Oh, Miss Todd, I don't want clergymen or officers."

"Don't you? Well then, we'll get some novels from the circulating
library. At three o'clock I always drive out, and we'll go to the
pastrycook's. Oh, I declare, here's Sir Lionel Bertram, as usual. You
know Sir Lionel, don't you?"

Adela said that she had met Sir Lionel at Miss Baker's.

"What a pity that match should have gone off, isn't it? I mean dea