"Oh, yes," answered Alice quickly. "She was staying, and her father, Colonel Maubray, at the Wymerings' last autumn. She's quite lovely, I think, and very clever--but I don't know--I think she's a little ill-natured, but very amusing. She seems to have a talent for cutting people up--and a little of that kind of thing, you know, is very well, but one does not care for it _always_. And is she really the young lady?" "Yes, and---- Dear me! Mr. Darnley, I'm afraid my story has alarmed you." "Why should it?" laughed Vivian Darnley, partly to cover, perhaps, a little confusion. "I can't tell, I'm sure, but you blushed as much as a man can; and you know you did. I wonder, Alice, what this under-plot can be, where all is so romantic. Perhaps, after all, Mr. David Arden is to adopt the young lady, and some one else, to whom he is also kind, is to marry her. Don't you think that would be a very natural arrangement?" Alice laughed, and Darnley laughed; but he was embarrassed. "And Colonel Maubray, is he still living?" asked Alice. "Oh, no, dear; he died ten or eleven months ago. A very foolish man, you know; he wasted a very good property. He was some distant relation, also; Mr. Brounker said your uncle, Mr. David Arden, was very much attached to him--they were schoolfellows, and great friends all their lives." "I should not wonder," said Alice smiling--and then became silent. "Do you know the young lady, this fortunate Miss Maubray?" said Lady May, turning to Vivian Darnley again. "I? Yes--that is, I can't say more than a mere acquaintance--and not an old one. I made her acquaintance at Mr. Arden's house. He is her guardian. I don't know about any other arrangements. I daresay there may be." "Well, I know her a little, also," said Lady May. "I thought her pretty--and she sings a little, and she's clever." "She's all that," said Alice. "Oh, here comes Dick! What do you say, Richard--is not Miss Maubray very pretty? We are making a plot to marry her to Vivian Darnley, and get Uncle David to contribute her _dot_." "What benevolent people! _You_ don't object, I dare say, Vivian." "I have not been consulted," said he; "and, of course, Uncle David need not be consulted, as he has simply to transfer the proper quantity of stock." Richard Arden had drawn near Lady May, and said a few words in a low tone, which seemed not unwelcome to her. "I saw Longcluse this morning. He has not been here, has he?" he added, as a little silence threatened the conversation. "No, he has not turned up. And what a charming person he is!" exclaimed Lady May.