Back at Lawford, and they were free of the incubus, in fact Jock Morrison passed out of mind; for in spite of his breathing out threatenings of poverty, the Reverend Eli Mallow, now that he found his eldest son had not come to him for money, had opened the rectory doors to receive visitors. "We must entertain a little while we are down here, my dear, for the girls' sake. Perhaps it is as well too for the boys." "Yes, dear," said Mrs Mallow, looking up from her sofa with her customary patient smile; and the company arrived, and was entertained in a manner that made Fullerton hope that no one would suffer for it, that was all he could say. Among the guests who had been staying at the rectory were the Perry-Mortons--_the_ Perry-Mortons in society meaning Mr Perry-Morton and his two sisters, for though it was believed that they had, or had had, a father and mother, the seniors were never even heard of, much less seen. Ill-natured people said that Perry-Morton the elder had been a pawnbroker who had made money largely. Be that as it may, Perry-Morton the younger was very rich, and never mentioned any relatives but his sisters. Lord Artingale was there from Gatton every day, but his friend and companion, James Magnus, was in the North sketching, so the young man, having no restraining arm on which to lean, fell more in love as fast as he could with little Cynthia. Claudine Perry-Morton--by the way, there was a good deal of familiar nicknaming at the house of the Perry-Mortons, Mr Perry-Morton having been known to call Claudine--Bessy, and the younger sister--Faustine Judy. But that was in the privacy of their home life, and showed the simplicity and deep affection of their natures. Claudine Perry-Morton had made a dead set at the young nobleman, but finding at once that her chance was _nil_, she graciously made way for her sister, who sang "Jock of Hazeldine" at him, in a very deep contralto voice, and with a graceful stoop over the piano; but Faustine Perry-Morton was woman of the world enough to see that Lord Artingale's thoughts ran in quite another direction, so she also resigned herself to circumstances, and thought him a man of exceedingly low tastes. So all the smiles and sweetness of the sisters were lavished upon the rectory girls for their brother's sake. Nothing particular was said, but it soon became evident that Perry-Morton found favour with the Rector, and it was quite understood that the wealthy visitor would, sooner or later, propose for his elder daughter's hand. She was nearly as bright at this time as her sister, and Artingale declared that she was the dearest girl he knew, not from any amiable passages between them, but because she laughingly helped him to pleasant little _tete-a-tetes_ with her sister, especially when they were out riding; horse exercise and good long gallops being a great deal in vogue, when the weather was mild and clear.