. He has no fancy for my going
here and there at everybody's bidding. But Mr Sherwood is coming with
him--Mrs Seaton's cousin--a very disagreeable person; at least, I think
so. Mamma thinks him wonderfully good, and he is a great favourite with
papa, too. I am sure I don't know why. I think he is conceited; and he
is an Englishman, besides."

Christie laughed.

"That's not a very good reason."

"Perhaps not. But he has such a cool, indifferent way of asserting the
superiority of the English over all other nations, as though the
question need not be discussed. `It must be quite evident to
everybody,' his manner seems to say."

After a pause, Miss Gertrude continued:

"And that is not all. He is very meddlesome. He is always telling
mamma what ought to be expected from a young lady like me, and getting
her to annoy me about lessons and other things; at least, I think so. I
know he thinks me quite childish; and sometimes he interferes between
Clement and me. What do you think he had the impertinence to say to me
once? That no one was fit to govern who had not learned to obey. That
it would be wiser for me to learn the lesson of obedience myself, than
to attempt to teach it to my little brother."

"And what answer did you make?" asked Christie, after a little
hesitation.

"I turned and walked out of the room; and I did not see him again. I
chose to be out of the way when he came to say good-bye. I dare say
that is one reason why I don't like the thought of his coming just now.
I feel a little awkward, you know. I owe him one good turn, however.
If it had not been for him, I think father would have listened to Aunt
Barbara and sent me to school. I ought to thank him for that."

"And didn't you want to go to school?" asked Christie, in some surprise.

"No, indeed! I never was at school, you know. We had a governess and
teachers at home. I am to have private teachers for some things here,
when the summer is over, unless I should be sent to school, after all."

When the gentleman made his appearance among them the next day, he did
not look like the formidable person Christie imagined him to be. They
were sitting on the lawn, in the shadow of the locust-tree, when he
arrived; and before he went into the house he came and shook hands with
Miss Gertrude and the little boys. Christie thought he must have quite
forgotten his falling-out with the young lady, he met her so pleasantly
and frankly. The