"Mean?" cried her sister, placing one hand upon the table and vaulting upon it in a sitting position. "It means--here, Ruth, go down on your knees by the door, and keep your ear by the keyhole. If you let that old hyaena Markes, or either of those wicked old cats, come and hear what we say, I'll buy a sixpenny packet of pins and come and stick them in all over you when you're in bed." Ruth ran to the door, knelt down, and placed her ear as she was ordered to do, while her cousin went on: "It means that the wicked old things are obliged to own at last that we have grown into women, and they want to get us married. Whoop! Lucky for them they do. If they didn't, I'd run away with one of the soldiers. I say, Rie, wasn't that big officer nice?" "I don't know," said her sister pettishly. "I didn't taste him." "Who said you did, pig? Diamonds, and carriages, and servants, Rie. I'd have a box at the opera, too, and one at all the theatres. Oh, Rie! wait till I get my chance. I'll keep up the dignity of the family; but when my turn does come, oh! won't I serve those two old creatures out." "Dignity of the family, indeed!" cried Marie angrily. "How dare they speak like they did of poor dear papa, even if he was a Riversley!" "And the wicked old thing boasting all the time about her Norman descent, and Sir Guyfawkes de Dymcoques. I dare say he was one of the Conqueror's tag-rags, who came to see what he could get." "I know poor papa was very handsome." "Just like you, Rie," laughed Clotilde. "No, he was more like you, Clo," said her sister quietly. "I don't see anything to laugh at. Do you suppose I don't know that we are both very beautiful women?" Clotilde's eyes flashed, and her cheeks began to glow as she saw her sister, in her shabby gingham morning dress, place her hands behind her head, interlacing her fingers and leaning sidewise in an attitude full of natural, unstudied grace. She looked down at kneeling Ruth. "We are both handsome girls now, aren't we, Ruth?" she said imperiously. "Yes, dear, very--very," said the girl, flushing as she spoke. "I think you lovely with your beautiful dark eyes, and soft, warm complexions; and you both have such splendid figures and magnificent hair." Marie's eyes half closed in a dreamy way, as if some dawning love fancy were there, and an arch smile curled her rich red lip. She was quite satisfied, and accepted the girl's admiration as her due, hardly moving as Clotilde bounded from the table to the door, listened for a moment, and then, seizing Ruth by the pink, shelly little ear, half dragged her into the room. Her hot blood showed in her vindictive, fierce way, as she stood threateningly over the kneeling girl. "Lying little pig," she hissed, "how dare you say such things! It's your mean-spirited, cringing, favour-currying way. You think we are both as ugly as sin."