“Oh, I don’t mean that would be so--in every case,” cried Claude, with sudden earnestness. “In any case, I think you should never tell the girl’s sister, Mr Ramsay; it is not a very nice thing to do.” “Miss Waring--Frances!--I was not thinking of you as any girl’s sister; I was thinking of you----” “I hope not at all; for it would be a great pity to waste any more thoughts on our family,” said Frances. “I have sometimes been a little vexed that Constance came, for it changed all my life, and took me away from every one I knew. But I am glad you have told me this, for now I understand it quite.” She did not rise from where she was seated and leave him, as he almost hoped she would, making a little quarrel of it, but sat still, with a composure which Claude felt was much less complimentary. “Now that I know all about it,” she said, after a little interval, with a laugh, “I think what you want would be very unreasonable--and what no woman could do.” “You said the very reverse five minutes ago,” he said sulkily. “Yes--but I didn’t know what the--what the wages were,” she said with another laugh. “It is you who are giving me _renseignements_ now.” Claude took his complaint next morning to Lady Markham’s room. “She actually chaffed me--chaffed me, I assure you; though she looks as if butter would not melt in her mouth.” “That is a little vulgar, Claude. If you talk like that to a girl, what can you expect? Some, indeed, may be rather grateful to you, as showing how little you look for; but you know I have always told you what you ought to try to do is to inspire a _grande passion_.” “That is what I should like above all things to do,” said the young man; “but----” “But--it would cost too much trouble?” “Perhaps; and I am not an impassioned sort of man. Lady Markham, was it really from me that Constance ran away?” “I have told you before, Claude, that was not how it should be spoken of. She did not run away. She took into her head a romantic idea of making acquaintance with her father, in which Markham encouraged her. Or perhaps it was Markham that put it into her head. It is possible--I can’t tell you--that Markham had already something else in his own head, and that he had begun to think it would be a good thing to try if other changes could be made.” “What could Markham have in his head? and what changes----” “Oh,” she cried, “how can you ask me? I know how you have all been talking. You speculate, just as I do.” “I don’t think so, Lady Markham,” said Claude. “I am sure Markham would find all that sort of thing a great bore. Of course I know what you mean. But I don’t think so. I have always told them my opinion. Whatever may happen, Markham will stick to you.” “Poor Markham!” she said, with a quick revulsion of feeling. “After all, it is a little hard, is it not, that he should have nothing brighter than that to look to in his life?”