ry with a
constant succession of visitors, and to have engagements for every
night of the week in town. "But for young people it is not quite so
good. How is a young lady to get herself settled in life?"

"Settled?" asked Mr. Dosett, vaguely.

"Married," suggested Lady Albury, more plainly. Mr. Dosett shook his
head. No idea on the subject had ever flashed across his mind. To
provide bread and meat, a bed and clothes, for his sister's child
he had felt to be a duty,--but not a husband. Husbands came, or did
not,--as the heavens might be propitious. That Ayala should go to
Stalham for the sake of finding a husband was certainly beyond the
extent of his providing care. "In fact how is a girl to have a chance
at all unless she is allowed to see some one? Of course I don't say
this with reference to our house. There will be no young men there,
or anything of that kind. But, taking a broad view, unless you let a
girl like that have what chances come in her way how is she to get
on? I think you have hardly a right to do it."

"We have done it for the best."

"I am sure of that, Mr. Dosett. And I hope you will tell Mrs. Dosett,
with my compliments, how thoroughly I appreciate her goodness. I
should have called upon her instead of coming here, only that I
cannot very well get into that part of the town."

"I will tell her what you are good enough to say."

"Poor Ayala! I am afraid that her other aunt, Aunt Tringle, was not
as good to her as your wife. I have heard about how all that occurred
in Rome. She was very much admired there. I am told that she is
perfectly lovely."

"Pretty well."

"A sort of beauty that we hardly ever see now,--and very, very
clever."

"Ayala is clever, I think."

"She ought to have her chance. She ought indeed. I don't think you
quite do your duty by such a girl as that unless you let her have a
chance. She is sure to get to know people, and to be asked from one
house to another. I speak plainly, for I really think you ought to
let her come."

All this sank deeply into the heart of Uncle Reginald. Whether it was
for good or evil it seemed to him at the moment to be unanswerable.
If there was a chance of any good thing for Ayala, surely it could
not be his duty to bar her from that chance. A whole vista of new
views in reference to the treatment of young ladies was opened to him
by the words of his visitor. Ayala certainly was pretty. Certainly
she was clever. A husband with an income w