e liked his father, at the honeymoon's
end, to prefer talking of her to talking with her? "She has been
most carefully brought up, and is very intelligent and industrious,"
said Raymond. His mother could not help wondering whether a Roman
son might not thus have described a highly accomplished Greek slave,
just brought home for his mother's use.

CHAPTER III
Parish Explorations

A cry more tuneable
Was never holla'd to, nor cheer'd with horn,
In Crete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly:
Judge, when you hear.--But, soft; what nymphs are these?
Midsummer Night's Dream

It was quite true that Cecil Charnock Poynsett was a very
intelligent industrious creature, very carefully brought up--nay, if
possible, a little too much so. "A little wholesome neglect" had
been lacking.

The only child of her parents who had lived to see a second birthday
was sure to be the centre of solicitude. She had not been spoilt in
the usual acceptation of the word, for she had no liberty, fewer
indulgences and luxuries than many children, and never was permitted
to be naughty; but then she was quite aware that each dainty or each
pleasure was granted or withheld from a careful consideration of her
welfare, and that nothing came by chance with her. And on her rare
ebullitions of self-will, mamma, governess, nurse, nay even papa,
were all in sorrowful commotion till their princess had been brought
to a sense of the enormity of her fault.

She lost her mother at fourteen, but the same anxious training was
carried on by her father; and after three years he married her
mother's most intimate friend, avowedly that the perfect system
might be continued. Cecil's gaieties as a come-out young lady were
selected on the same judicious principles as her childish
diversions; and if ever the Dunstone family favoured an
entertainment not to their taste, it was after a debate on the need
of condescension and good-nature. She had, however, never had a
season in London--a place her father hated; but she was taken abroad
as soon as she was deemed old enough thoroughly to appreciate what
she was to see there; and in Switzerland her Cousin Raymond, who had
at different times visited Dunstone, overtook the party, and ere
long made his proposals. He was the very man to whom two or three
centuries ago Mr. Charnock would have betrothed the heiress in her
infancy; and Cecil had never liked any one so well, feeling that her
destiny came to a proper cul