"What has my kind heart to do with it? But Lilias has more than we ever had--she has beauty, you know. Something should be made of that. It should not just run away into the dust like our good looks, and be of profit or pleasure to nobody. I struck out the idea," said Miss Margaret, with a little pride, "on the spot, it is true; it came to me, and I did not shut my mind to it; but it's full of reason, when you come to think of it. I see a great many reasons for it, but none against it. They have a sort of a little income--just something for their clothes. They need not be extravagant in clothes, for Her Majesty takes little pleasure in vanity and dressing; and then they have honourable to their name. The Honourable Lilias Murray--it would sound very well; and then in the service of the Queen. Don't go too far forward, Jean; but it is a thing to think of, to keep her heart up with. The little thing is very high-spirited when you take her the right way." "My heart smote me to come away and leave her, Margaret." "Why should your heart smite you? Would you like her to be talked about as the belle of a manse parlour, and perhaps worse than that--who can tell, at her age? She might see some long-legged fellow that would take her fancy--a factor's son, or an assistant minister, or even Philip Stormont, who is not a match for a Murray." "Say no more, Margaret. I am quite of your opinion." "And that is a great comfort to me, Jean. We can do things together that we could never do separate. Please God she shall have her day; she shall shine, at the Queen's court, and marry nobly, and, if the family must be extinguished as seems likely, we'll be extinguished with _éclat_, my dear, not just wither out solitary like you and me."