ver, applied to Cecilia, saying she would be more
likely to know.

"Oh, he does nothing," said Cecilia; "he is a beau."

"Now what does that mean?" put in Hatty.

"I'll tell you what it means," said Charlotte. "Emily, you be quiet.
It means that his income is twenty pence a year, and he spends two
thousand pounds; that he is always dressed to perfection, that he is
ready to make love to anybody at two minutes' notice--that is, if her
fortune is worth it; that he is never at home in an evening, nor out of
bed before noon; that he spends four hours a day in dressing, and would
rather ten times lose his wife (when he has one) than break his clouded
cane, or damage his gold snuff-box. Isn't that it, Cicely?"

"You are so absurd!" said Amelia, languidly.

"I told you to keep quiet," was Charlotte's answer. "Never mind whether
it is absurd; is it true?"

"Well, partly."

"But I don't understand," I said. "How can a man spend two thousand
pounds, if he have but twenty pence?"

"Know, ignorant creature," replied Charlotte, with mock solemnity, "that
lansquenet can be played, and that tradesmen's bills can be put behind
the fire."

"Then you mean, I suppose, that he games, and does not pay his debts?"

"That is about the etiquette, [Note 1.] my charmer."

"Well, I don't know what you call that down in the South," said I, "but
up here in Cumberland we do not call it honesty."

"The South! Oh, hear the child!" screamed Charlotte. "She thinks
Derbyshire is in the South!"

"They teach the children so, my dear, in the Carlisle schools,"
suggested Hatty.

"I don't know what they teach in the Carlisle schools," I said, "for I
did not go there. But if Derbyshire be not south of Cumberland, I
haven't learned much geography."

"Oh dear, how you girls do chatter!" cried Sophy, coming up to us. "I
wish one or two of you would think a little more about what wants doing.
Cary, you might have made the turnovers for supper. I am sure I have
enough on my hands."

"But, Sophy, I do not know how," said I.

"Then you ought, by this time," she answered. "Do not know how to make
an apple turnover! Why, it is as easy as shutting your eyes."

"When you know how to do it," put in Hatty.

"That is more than you do," returned Sophy, "for you are safe to leave
something out."

Hatty made her a low courtesy, and danced away, humming, "Cease your
funning," just as we heard the sound of horses' feet on the drive
outside.