"Mr Whitstable, I con you hearty thanks for your good and just entreatment of me," said Aubrey, "and if ever your occasions call you into Cumberland, I promise you a true welcome at Selwick Hall." That night, Aubrey seemed to be in a brown study, and the sagacious Hans let him alone till his thoughts should blossom forth into words of themselves. They came at last. "Hans, thou wist it is customary for chaplains to be entertained in great houses?" "Ay," said Hans, smiling to himself. "I desire not to ape the great: but--thinkest thou we might not have a prophet's chamber in some corner at Selwick--the chamber over the east porch, belike?" "Truly, if the prophet were to hand," said Hans, looking as grave as if he were not secretly amused. "The prophet is to hand rather than the chamber," was the answer. "Couldst thou not guess I meant Mr Marshall?" Hans had guessed it some seconds back. "A good thought, truly," he replied. "That will I ask my grandmother," said Aubrey. It was the evening after Aubrey's return to the White Bear when that proposal was suggested to Lady Louvaine. A light of gladness came to the dim blue eyes. "My dear lad, how blessed a thought!" said she. "But what should come of Mrs Agnes, then?" suggested Temperance. "Oh, she could easily be fitted with some service," answered Mrs Louvaine, who for once was not in a complaining mood. "Hans, you might ask of Mr Leigh if he know of any such, or maybe of some apprenticeship that should serve her. She can well work with the needle, and is a decent maid, that should not shame her mistress, were she not over high in the world." "Mother!" The indignant tone of that one word brought the handkerchief instantly out of Mrs Louvaine's pocket. "Well, really, Aubrey, I do think it most unreasonable! Such a way to speak to your poor mother, and she a widow! When I have but one child, and he--" "He is sorry, Mother, if he spake to you with disrespect," said Aubrey in a different tone. "But suffer me to say that if Mr Marshall come with us, so must Mrs Agnes." "Now, Faith, do be quiet! I've been counting on Mrs Agnes to see to things a bit, and save Edith,--run about for my Lady Lettice, see you, and get our Lettice into her good ways." "You don't say, to spare _me_," wailed Mrs Louvaine. "No, my dear, I don't," replied Temperanoe, significantly. "I'll spare you when you need sparing; don't you fear."