"No, Rex, it's on my shoulders altogether, and I do say it's too bad. It's seven years ago since I was eighteen, I've forgotten all about it. I don't understand girls of that age, and I have my hands full of other things, too. And--" "Make her over to Trixie," said Oliver. "Trixie's only a year older." Florence glanced at him with contempt. This second time of the suggestion as to Trixie being made, she did not condescend to notice it in words. "Don't interrupt your sister, Noll," said Major Winchester.--"Well, Florence?" "Well?" she repeated. "`Ill,' I say. What more do you want, Rex? Haven't I told you enough?" "Who are these unfortunate people?" he asked after a moments pause. "What is their name?" "Wentworth," said Alicia. Florence didn't seem inclined to speak. "Mrs and Miss Wentworth. The mother herself can't be very old, I fancy, and the daughter, as we said, is only seventeen or eighteen." "Poor little soul!" said Major Winchester. Florence faced round upon him. "Now Rex," she said, "if you call that comforting me, and--" "I never said I was going to comfort you," he said. "I never had the very slightest intention of doing anything of the kind, I can assure you. You don't need comforting, and if you think you do, it only proves the more that you don't." "What do I need, then?" she asked more submissively than she would have spoken to many. "Scolding?" "Something like it," he began. But here he was interrupted. Both Alicia and Oliver turned to leave the room. "Rather you than I, Florrie," said her brother. "I've had my lecture from him this morning, and I don't want any more." "And I must go to have a dress tried on, I'm sorry to say," said Alicia. "Besides which," she added confidentially to Oliver when the door was safely closed behind them, "Rex is a very fine fellow, we all know, but his sermonisings are rather too much of a good thing now and then. And if it's Florrie he's at, there's never any saying when he'll leave off, for you see she answers him back, and argues, and all the rest of it. How she can be troubled to do it, I cannot conceive!" "She's not cast in _quite_ the same mould as the rest of us, I'm afraid," said Oliver. "For that reason I suppose Rex thinks her the most promising to try his hand on." "He might be satisfied with Eva," said Miss Helmont. "He can twist and turn and mould her as it suits him. Why can't he let other people alone?" "He's looking out for new worlds to conquer, I suppose," said Oliver. "Eva's turned out; complete, perfect, hall-marked." "Well, he might leave poor Florrie alone," said Alicia. "My dear child, you are unreasonable. As far as I remember, you and she poured out your woes and grievances to him, and he was bound to answer." "He might have sympathised with her and let her grumble," said Miss Helmont. "However, perhaps it will distract her attention. Poor Florrie," with a gentle little sigh, "it's a pity she takes things to heart so."