"You retired early last night," said Lady Ingram to Celia, as she sipped her chocolate on the following afternoon. "You were tired, I suppose?" "No, Madam," said Celia, honestly; "I was angry." Lady Ingram gave her usual sign of surprise or perplexity--a very slight elevation of her chiselled eyebrows. "With whom, my dear?" "With Mr. Colville, Madam." "A very good family, child," said Lady Ingram, gravely. "A younger branch, it is true, but still an old family--allied to the Colvilles of Bassingbourne. They can trace their descent to the eleventh century." "Madam, Mr. Colville and I were not disputing the length of our descent." "When you do, my dear, remember that you are of a still older family than he. Hubert de Ingeramme went over to England with William the Conqueror, and before that his line had been seated at Gournay and Ingeramme from the days of Rollo. You must be careful to remember, child, that if there be no high titles in your house, you are very ancient indeed; and that, after all, is the real thing. There are many families in France who are merely Counts or Barons in respect of title, but whose lines are as old as the Crown itself. '_Familles en velours rouge cramoisi,_'[33] that is what some call them. And yours, my dear, is a crimson velvet family. Pray don't allow any one to dispute that." "I am not in the least likely, Madam," was Celia's amused reply. "That is right, my child!" resumed Lady Ingram, condescendingly. "I am rejoiced to see that you appreciate the importance of the subject. By the way, has Philip told you that he has received a commission from His Majesty?" "Yes, Madam," said Philip's sister, sighing. "My dear," answered his mother, "there is nothing to sigh about. 'Tis high honor to receive a commission from King James. The troops, I learn, march for Landrécies on the 19th--next Monday; and are to oppose Prince Eugene there about the 10th of next month. I propose, therefore, to travel to Landrécies, where I shall take apartments--small and inconvenient, I fear they will be: but I suppose you can put up with that? And then Philip can come and see us from time to time while the troops are there; and I shall be able to see that he powders his hair properly, and does not neglect the tying of his cravats. 'Twould never do that an Ingram should be unmodish, even in battle. Only think, if he were to go into action in a Steenkirk![34] I should never forgive myself. And he is far too careless in that respect." "I can put up with anything that you can, Madam," said Celia, answering only one clause of her step-mother's speech. "Very good, my dear. Then order Patient to be ready." "Is Patient to go, Madam?"