"Sensible, shrewd woman, Mrs. Hare. By the by, we'll send her a pineapple. Caroline was made to be a woman of rank!" "Quite; so much self-possession!" "And if Mr. Maltravers would sell or let Burleigh--" "It would be so pleasant!" "Had you not better give Caroline a hint?" "My love, she is so sensible, let her go her own way." "You are right, my dear Betsy; I shall always say that no one has more common-sense than you; you have brought up your children admirably!" "Dear Charles!" "It is coldish to-night, love," said the rector; and he put out the candle. From that time, it was not the fault of Mr. and Mrs. Merton if Lord Doltimore did not find their house the pleasantest in the county. One evening the rectory party were assembled together in the cheerful drawing-room. Cleveland, Mr. Merton, Sir John, and Lord Vargrave, reluctantly compelled to make up the fourth, were at the whist-table; Evelyn, Caroline, and Lord Doltimore were seated round the fire, and Mrs. Merton was working a footstool. The fire burned clear, the curtains were down, the children in bed: it was a family picture of elegant comfort. Mr. Maltravers was announced. "I am glad you are come at last," said Caroline, holding out her fair hand. "Mr. Cleveland could not answer for you. We are all disputing as to which mode of life is the happiest." "And your opinion?" asked Maltravers, seating himself in the vacant chair,--it chanced to be next to Evelyn's. "My opinion is decidedly in favour of London. A metropolitan life, with its perpetual and graceful excitements,--the best music, the best companions, the best things in short. Provincial life is so dull, its pleasures so tiresome; to talk over the last year's news, and wear out one's last year's dresses, cultivate a conservatory, and play Pope Joan with a young party,--dreadful!" "I agree with Miss Merton," said Lord Doltimore, solemnly; not but what I like the country for three or four months in the year, with good shooting and hunting, and a large house properly filled, independent of one's own neighbourhood: but if I am condemned to choose one place to live in, give me Paris." "Ah, Paris; I never was in Paris. I should so like to travel!" said Caroline. "But the inns abroad are so very bad," said Lord Doltimore; "how people can rave about Italy, I can't think. I never suffered so much in my life as I did in Calabria; and at Venice I was bit to death by mosquitoes. Nothing like Paris, I assure you: don't you think so, Mr. Maltravers?" "Perhaps I shall be able to answer you better in a short time. I think of accompanying Mr. Cleveland to Paris!" "Indeed!" said Caroline. "Well, I envy you; but is it a sudden resolution?" "Not very." "Do you stay long?" asked Lord Doltimore. "My stay is uncertain." "And you won't let Burleigh in the meanwhile?" "_Let_ Burleigh? No; if it once pass from my hands it will be forever!"