When the children were gone, and Sophia was attending the sisters to their apartment, Mrs Grey looked at her husband over her spectacles. "Well, my dear!" said she. "Well, my dear!" responded Mr Grey. "Do not you think Hester very handsome?" "There is no doubt of it, my dear. She is very handsome." "Do not you think Mr Hope thinks so too?" It is a fact which few but the despisers of their race like to acknowledge, and which those despisers of their race are therefore apt to interpret wrongly, and are enabled to make too much of--that it is perfectly natural,--so natural as to appear necessary,--that when young people first meet, the possibility of their falling in love should occur to all the minds present. We have no doubt that it always is so; though we are perfectly aware that the idea speedily goes out again, as naturally as it came in: and in no case so speedily and naturally as in the minds of the parties most nearly concerned, from the moment that the concern becomes very near indeed. We have no doubt that the minds in Mr Grey's drawing-room underwent the common succession of ideas,-- slight and transient imaginations, which pass into nothingness when unexpressed. Probably the sisters wondered whether Mr Hope was married, whether he was engaged, whether he was meant for Sophia, in the prospect of her growing old enough. Probably each speculated for half a moment, unconsciously, for her sister, and Sophia for both. Probably Mr Grey might reflect that when young people are in the way of meeting frequently in country excursions, a love affair is no very unnatural result. But Mrs Grey was the only one who fixed the idea in her own mind and another's by speaking of it. "Do not you think Mr Hope thinks Hester very handsome, Mr Grey?" "I really know nothing about it, my dear. He did not speak on the subject as he mounted his horse; and that is the only opportunity he has had of saying anything about the young ladies." "It would have been strange if he had then, before Sydney and the servants." "Very strange indeed." "But do you not think he must have been struck with her? I should like very well to have her settled here; and the corner-house of Mr Rowland's might do nicely for them. I do not know what Mrs Rowland would think of Mr Hope's marrying into our connection so decidedly." "My dear," said her husband, smiling, "just consider! For anything we know, these young ladies may both be attached and engaged. Hope may be attached elsewhere--." "No; that I will answer for it he is not. I--" "Well, you may have your reasons for being sure on that head. But he may not like the girls; they may not like him:--in short, the only thing that has happened is, that they have seen each other for one quarter of an hour." "Well! there is no saying what may come of it." "Very true: let us wait and see." "But there is no harm in my telling you whatever comes into my head!"