‘Bella! I don’t think I could endure my existence if I thought that people talked about me,’ cried Mrs. Dulcimer, solemnly. ‘Of course, in my case it would be particularly awful. A vicar’s wife is like Cæsar’s.’ ‘Cæsar had so many wives,’ said Bella. ‘He could hardly expect all of them to be respectable.’ ‘My dear,’ exclaimed Mrs. Dulcimer, her whole countenance suddenly illuminated, ‘I have such a splendid idea.’ Bella looked anything but delighted. ‘What is it, dear Mrs. Dulcimer?’ ‘What a husband Captain Standish would make for your sister Clementina! My dear, he is the very man for her. A man of high family--rolling in money--young--handsome. WHAT a chance for that poor girl!’ ‘My dear Mrs. Dulcimer, do you imagine that any man of high family would choose a wife out of my father’s house?’ ‘But he need not see her in her father’s house--at any rate not till he is so deeply in love that he will not care a straw whether her family are rich or poor. He will see her at the Park--elegantly dressed--with you. He will only think of her as your sister. And if he were to propose I feel sure that Mr. Piper would do something handsome for her. He is the soul of generosity. You know that, Bella.’ ‘He is very generous, but I cannot expect him to give all my sisters fortunes.’ ‘Not all of them, dear. No, of course not;--but he would give Clementina something, if she were going to make such a match as that. A man in his position would willingly make some sacrifice to have Captain Standish for his brother-in-law. Only think, Lady Emmeline Standish would be your--something-in-law. It would be so nice for you to have people of high family belonging to you. It would give you the _entrée_ to county society.’ ‘It would be very nice, I dare say,’ said Bella, not elated by this brilliant perspective, ‘but it is just the most unlikely thing to come to pass. A man so run after as Captain Standish has been is not likely to fall in love with Clementina.’ ‘I am not so sure of that,’ said Mrs. Dulcimer, sagely. ‘More wonderful things have happened within my knowledge. Clementina is a very pretty girl, almost as pretty as you, Bella. She has your complexion. I hope you’ve invited her for Wednesday week.’ ‘No, indeed I have not. It doesn’t do to be overrun by one’s family always. You see I could scarcely ask Tina without asking papa and mamma; and that is quite out of the question.’ ‘You might have her to stay with you,’ suggested Mrs. Dulcimer. ‘She would help to amuse your step-daughters.’ Elizabeth Fry and Mary Wolstencroft were coming home for their summer vacation in a few days, a return acutely dreaded by Bella. ‘Well, dear Mrs. Dulcimer, perhaps you are right. It might be as well to have Clementina.’ She could not be more in the way than those two troublesome step-daughters, Bella thought.