--lower and lower went poor James's mercury.
If he wanted to move to Brighton or Cheltenham, well and good. Whatever
were her engagements, or whatever pleasures darling Rosey might have in
store, dear thing!--at her age, my dear Mrs. Newcome, would not one
do all to make a young creature happy?--under no circumstances could I
think of leaving my poor brother.

Mrs. Mackenzie thought herself a most highly principled woman, Mrs.
Newcome had also a great opinion of her. These two ladies had formed a
considerable friendship in the past months, the captain's widow having
an unaffected reverence for the banker's lady and thinking her one of
the best informed and most superior women in the world. When she had a
high opinion of a person Mrs. Mack always wisely told it. Mrs. Newcome
in her turn thought Mrs. Mackenzie a very clever, agreeable, ladylike
woman,--not accomplished, but one could not have everything. "No, no, my
dear," says simple Hobson, "never would do to have every woman as clever
as you are, Maria. Women would have it all their own way then."

Maria, as her custom was, thanked God for being so virtuous and clever,
and graciously admitted Mrs. and Miss Mackenzie into the circle of
adorers of that supreme virtue and talent. Mr. Newcome took little
Rosey and her mother to some parties. When any took place in Bryanstone
Square, they were generally allowed to come to tea.

When on the second day of his arrival the dutiful Clive went to dine
with Mr. James, the ladies, in spite of their raptures at his return and
delight at seeing him, were going in the evening to his aunt. Their talk
was about the Princess all dinner-time. The Prince and Princess were to
dine in Bryanstone Square. The Princess had ordered such and such things
at the jeweller's--the Princess would take rank over an English Earl's
daughter--over Lady Anne Newcome, for instance. "Oh, dear! I wish the
Prince and Princess were smothered in the Tower," growled James Binnie;
"since you have got acquainted with 'em I have never heard of anything
else."

Clive, like a wise man, kept his counsel about the Prince and Princess,
with whom we have seen that he had had the honour of an interview that
very day. But after dinner Rosey came round and whispered to her mamma,
and after Rosey's whisper mamma flung her arms round Rosey's neck and
kissed her, and called her a thoughtful darling. "What do you think
this creature says, Clive?" says Mrs. Mack, still holding