"Here's something like old days. The duke is coming home for good, and Lady Estelle is finally quite well and strong, but unmarried still--more's the pity." "They've been away long," said Patty, uneasily. "Ay. How long is it since I've seen his grace? Not since they all came here." Patty looked warningly at him. He stooped to tie his shoe. "The duke been here!" said Doris. "The duke and his family to a common farm-house!" "A farm-house is not so poor a place, missey," said Mark. Doris sprung up. "I remember--now I remember! I've had gleams of it, and wondered what I was trying to think of. They came in a gorgeous coach, with men in livery that I thought quite splendid; the duke, a tall, grand man, and with him two ladies?" "Yes," said Patty, shortly. "I can see my memories best in the dark," said Doris, shutting her lovely blue eyes. "It is a vague dream of a fair, proud face, a shining, lovely lady all in lace, and silk, and jewels!" "That was Lady Estelle Hereford," said Mark, carried away. "Lady Estelle Hereford! There's a name worth wearing! Why did not I have such a name--not that hateful Doris Brace!" "Your name is good enough," said Mark, tartly. "Why did they come?" demanded Doris. These people were not good at fine evasions, but Mark made shift to answer: "The duke is my landlord; it is only proper for him to see his best farm now and then." "Did they see me?" urged Doris. "Listen to Vanity! As if she was the show of the house!" said Mark. "So I am. What here is worth seeing in comparison?" "If that doesn't beat all!" said the scandalized Patty. "Yes, he saw you," said Mark; "and now your next question will be, 'Did he admire me?' I won't answer you." "There's no need; it goes without saying. Of course he admired me if he had eyes. I must have been lovely. Why did you not have my picture taken? I must have looked just like one of Correggio's little angels." "Whose?" asked Mark. "You didn't act much like an angel, if I remember right," said Mattie, quietly. "Who cares for the _acting_, so long as one has the looks?" inquired Doris, with simplicity. "Share and share alike between sisters, you know, Mattie. I'll _look_ like an angel, and you'll _act_ like one!" CHAPTER XVIII. A WOMAN AVERSE TO MARRIAGE. The Duke and Duchess of Downsbury had been so long absent from their home, that on their return they felt the greatest pleasure and keenest interest in every one whose name they remembered. Lady Estelle had outgrown her weakness of constitution. For many years it had been quite uncertain how her illness would terminate. It was not so much a malady as a wasting of strength, an utter absence of all hope or energy, a strange languor that attacked both body and mind.