the style of place."

"One gets better acquainted in a week than one does in seven years
in a place like this," proceeded Frank. "And you may tell Julius to
ask any of the clerics if Lenore was not a perfect darling with the
Vicar and his wife, and her sister too; and Rockpier is a regular
tip-top place for Church, you know. I'm sure it was enough to make
a fellow good for life, just to see Eleonora walking up the aisle
with that sweet face of hers, looking more like heaven than earth."

Rosamond made reply enough to set him off again. "Lady Tyrrell
would have been content to stay there for ever, she told me, but she
thought it too confined a range for Eleonora; there was no formation
of character, though I don't see how it could have formed better;
but Lady Tyrrell is a thoroughly careful motherly sister, and
thought it right she should see a little of the world. So they
broke up from Rockpier, and spent a year abroad; and now Lady
Tyrrell is making great sacrifices to enable her father to come and
live at home again. I must say it would be more neighbourly to
welcome them a little more kindly!"

"I should think such agreeable people were sure to win their way."

"Ah! you don't know how impervious our style of old squire and
squiress can be! If even mother is not superior to the old
prejudice, who will be? And it is _very_ hard on a fellow; for
three parts of my time is taken up by this eternal cramming--I
should have no heart for it but for her--and I can't be going over
to Sirenwood as I used to go to Rockpier, while my mother vexes
herself about it, in her state. If she were up and about I should
not mind, or she would know better; but what can they--Lenore, I
mean--think of me, but that I am as bad as the rest?"

"Do you mean that anything has passed between you?"

"No, not with Lenore. Her sister spoke to me, and said it was not
right when she had seen nothing but Rockpier; but she as good as
promised to stand my friend. And when I get to the office, in two
years, I shall have quite enough to begin upon, with what my mother
allows us."

"Then you hope she will wait for that?"

"I feel sure of it--that is, if she is not annoyed by this
abominable usage from my family. Oh! Rosamond, you will help us
when you get into your own house, and you will get Julius to see it
in a proper light. Mother trusts to him almost as much as to
Raymond; but it is our misfortune to be so much younger that she
can