“Her dress is very simple; but there is nothing in bad taste. Don’t you think I might take her anywhere as she is? I did not notice her hat,” said Lady Markham, with gravity; “but if that is right---- Simplicity is quite the right thing at eighteen----” “And in Lent,” said Markham. “It is quite true; in Lent, it is better than the right thing--it is the best thing. My dear, you must have had a very good maid. Foreign women have certainly better taste than the class we get our servants from. What a pity you did not bring her with you! One can always find room for a clever maid.” “I don’t believe she had any maid; it is all out of her own little head,” said Markham. “I told you not to let yourself be taken in. She has a deal in her, that little thing.” Lady Markham smiled, and gave Frances a kiss, enfolding her once more in that soft atmosphere which had been such a revelation to her last night. “I am sure she is a dear little girl, and is going to be a great comfort to me. You will want to write your letters this morning, my love, which you must do before lunch. And after lunch, we will go and see your aunt. You know that is a matter of--what shall we call it, Markham?--conscience with me.” “Pride,” Markham said, coming and standing by them in front of the fire. “Perhaps a little,” she answered with a smile; “but conscience too. I would not have her say that I had kept the child from her for a single day.” “That is how conscience speaks, Fan,” said Markham. “You will know next time you hear it. And after the Clarendons?” “Well--of course, there must be a hundred things the child wants. We must look at your evening dresses together, darling. Tell Josephine to lay them out and let me see them. We are going to have some people at the Priory for Easter; and when we come back, there will be no time. Yes, I think on our way home from Portland Place we must just look into--a shop or two.” “Now my mind is relieved,” Markham said. “I thought you were going to change the course of nature, Fan.” “The child is quite bewildered by your nonsense, Markham,” the mother said.