ashamed
of, and, much to Miss Chester's annoyance, always pretended ignorance
which did not exist. What she was proud of, and thrust foremost in her
conversation, were the accomplishments of two highly-educated daughters,
who painted on china, and played the violin, and on this subject she
received no encouragement from Aunt Katharine.

"I shouldn't have thought of disturbing you so early, Mrs Broadbent,"
she said briskly, when they were seated in the smart little
drawing-room, "but I've come on business. I want to know if you've a
setting of Minorca fowls to dispose of. I've a fancy to rear some."

Mrs Broadbent simpered a little and put her head on one side.

"I've no doubt we can oblige you, Miss Chester," she said. "I'll speak
to my poultry-man about it, and let you know."

"How many Minorcas have you?" asked Miss Chester.

"Oh, I really couldn't tell you, Miss Chester," replied Mrs Broadbent
with a little laugh. "I never thought of inquiring."

"Not know how many of each sort of fowls you have!" exclaimed Aunt
Katharine. "Why, if I had a farm, I'd know every one of them by sight,
and how many eggs they each laid. I suppose, though," she added, "you
leave that to your daughters. They must be a great help to you."

Mrs Broadbent bridled:

"Emmeline and Lilian are far too much engaged," she said, "with their
studies and their artistic work. Emmeline's quite devoted herself to
art. I've given her a large room at the top of the house for a studio."

"Indeed," said Miss Chester coldly. "And what does she do in it?"

"Just now she's painting some lovely plaques," said Mrs Broadbent, "and
Lilian's quite taken to the new poker-work."

"What is that?" asked her visitor.

"You haven't seen it, Miss Chester? Well, it _is_ quite new, and as I
was saying the other day, in these remote parts we don't see anything,
do we? But Lilian's been staying in London, and she learned it there.
She did that frame."

It seemed that poker-work was intended to have the effect of carving,
which was produced by burning patterns on wood with a red-hot
instrument.

"Well, if you ask my candid opinion," said Aunt Katharine, rising to
look at the frame, "I should like it much better plain; but it's a
harmless amusement, if wasting time is ever harmless.--Come Maisie,
Dennis will be quite tired of waiting.--You'll let me know about the
eggs, Mrs Broadbent, and their price. I shall be much obliged if you
can spare me a se