'Well, as you liked him at first well enough to bring him straight to see me, I suppose that means that now you are immensely pleased with him.' 'He's a gentleman,' said Laura. 'So he seems to me. But why then doesn't he speak out?' 'Perhaps that's the very reason! Seriously,' the girl added, 'I don't know what he comes to the house for.' 'Is he in love with your sister?' 'I sometimes think so.' 'And does she encourage him?' 'She detests him.' 'Oh, then, I like him! I shall immediately write to him to come and see me: I shall appoint an hour and give him a piece of my mind.' 'If I believed that, I should kill myself,' said Laura. 'You may believe what you like; but I wish you didn't show your feelings so in your eyes. They might be those of a poor widow with fifteen children. When I was young I managed to be happy, whatever occurred; and I am sure I looked so.' 'Oh yes, Lady Davenant--for you it was different. You were safe, in so many ways,' Laura said. 'And you were surrounded with consideration.' 'I don't know; some of us were very wild, and exceedingly ill thought of, and I didn't cry about it. However, there are natures and natures. If you will come and stay with me to-morrow I will take you in.' 'You know how kind I think you, but I have promised Selina not to leave her.' 'Well, then, if she keeps you she must at least go straight!' cried the old woman, with some asperity. Laura made no answer to this and Lady Davenant asked, after a moment: 'And what is Lionel doing?' 'I don't know--he is very quiet.' 'Doesn't it please him--his wife's improvement?' The girl got up; apparently she was made uncomfortable by the ironical effect, if not by the ironical intention, of this question. Her old friend was kind but she was penetrating; her very next words pierced further. 'Of course if you are really protecting her I can't count upon you': a remark not adapted to enliven Laura, who would have liked immensely to transfer herself to Queen's Gate and had her very private ideas as to the efficacy of her protection. Lady Davenant kissed her and then suddenly said--'Oh, by the way, his address; you must tell me that.' 'His address?' 'The young man's whom you brought here. But it's no matter,' the old woman added; 'the butler will have entered it--from his card.' 'Lady Davenant, you won't do anything so loathsome!' the girl cried, seizing her hand. 'Why is it loathsome, if he comes so often? It's rubbish, his caring for Selina--a married woman--when you are there.' 'Why is it rubbish--when so many other people do?' 'Oh, well, he is different--I could see that; or if he isn't he ought to be!' 'He likes to observe--he came here to take notes,' said the girl. 'And he thinks Selina a very interesting London specimen.' 'In spite of her dislike of him?' 'Oh, he doesn't know that!' Laura exclaimed. 'Why not? he isn't a fool.' 'Oh, I have made it seem----' But here Laura stopped; her colour had risen.