"Lettice, whatever one says, you always come back to your Puritan stuff. I wish you would be natural, like other maids. See, I am about to turn you over to Dorothy. Let us see if she can make something of you--I cannot.--Here, Doll! come and sit here, and talk with Lettice. I want to go and speak to Grissel yonder." Dorothy sat down obediently in the window-seat. "I thought Mr Louvaine was to be here to-day," she said. "So did I likewise. I cannot tell why he comes not." "Have you seen him lately?" "No, not in some time. I suppose he is busy." Dorothy looked amused. "What think you he doth all the day long?" Lettice had not been present when Aubrey detailed his day's occupations, and she was under the impression that he led a busy life, with few idle hours. "Truly, I know not what," she answered; "but the Earl, no doubt, hath his duties, and 'tis Aubrey's to wait on him." "The Earl, belike, reads an hour or two with his tutor, seeing he is but a child: and the rest of the time is there music and dancing, riding the great horse, playing at billiards, tennis, bowls, and such like. That is your cousin's business, Mrs Lettice." "Only that?--but I reckon he cannot be let go, but must come after his master's heels?" "He is on duty but three days of every week, save at the _lever_ and _coucher_, and may go whither he list on the other four." "Then I marvel he comes not oftener to visit us," said innocent Lettice. "Do you so? I don't," answered Dorothy, with a little laugh. "Why?" "How old are you, Mrs Lettice?" The notion of discourtesy connected with this query is modern. "I was twenty last June," said Lettice. "Dear heart! I should have supposed you were about two," said Dorothy, with a little curl of her lip. "But my grandmother thinks so likewise, and she is near eighty," said Lettice. "Ah! Extremes meet," answered Dorothy, biting her lip. Lettice tried to think out this obscure remark, but had not made much progress, when at the other end of the room she caught a glimpse of Aubrey. Though he stood with his back to her, she felt sure it was Aubrey. She knew him by the poise of his head and the soft golden gloss on his hair; and a moment later, his voice reached her ear. He came up towards them, stopping every minute to speak with some acquaintance, so that it took him a little time to reach them. "There is Cousin Aubrey," said Lettice. Dorothy answered by a nod. "You admire your cousin?" "Yes, I think he looks very well," replied Lettice, in her simplicity. Dorothy bit her lip again. "He is not so well-favoured as Mr Jeremy Stone," said she, "though he hath the better name, and comes of an elder line by much." By this time Aubrey had come up. "Ah, Lettice!" said he, kissing her. "Mrs Dorothy, your most obedient, humble servant." "Are you?" responded she. "Surely I am. Lay your commands on me." "Then bring Mr Stone to speak with me."