This was the first time that Cicely had voluntarily, and of her own prompting, spoken of Mirelle. Herring had mentioned her occasionally, but Cicely showed plainly that she retained no pleasant recollection of the Countess, and was uninterested in what had become of her. There was a spice of vindictiveness in her tone as she spoke. She was rejoicing that Mirelle should have her airs taken out of her. ’The poor Countess,’ said Herring, ’has suffered much annoyance among those wretched people——’ ’I have no patience with her,’ interrupted Cicely, ’giving herself airs, and calling herself a Countess. Why, her father was only a merchant, and I cannot see how she can inherit her mother’s title. The wife of an Earl is a Countess, and the daughters are Ladies, not Countesses.’ ’It is different abroad.’ ’You ought not to have humoured her. However, as you see no more of her now, no harm has been done by your falling in with her fancy. The Tramplaras are the last persons in the world to feed her vanity, and so by this time, it is to be hoped, she has learned to stand on the same level as those she is called to associate with.’ ’Do you not think it must be intolerable for one so refined and sensitive?’ ’Oh, there, there!’ interrupted Cicely, again laughing. ’We have had enough of Mirelle; let us banish her from our conversation. The very thought of her gives me a shiver.’ ’Cicely, tell me, has old Tramplara been pretty frequently to West Wyke of late?’ ’He has been to see my father now and then.’ ’Do you know that he has put down your father on his list as one of the directors of Ophir? His name is not yet printed, but Tramplara is counting on him.’ ’Why should he require my father’s name?’ ’To give respectability to the concern.’ ’I hope my father will not consent.’ ’He _must_ not. I am persuaded that Ophir is a fraud, and your father must be saved from being involved in what will cover with disgrace, and involve in ruin, all who are connected with it.’ ’Good heavens! Do you think my father has already given his consent? Oh, please go in and see him, and stop him. I know he is becoming excited about Ophir. He laughed at it at first, but he has changed his tone of late.’ ’I will go at once.’ Herring stepped into the hall to Mr. Battishill. ’Well, Herring!’ exclaimed the old man, brightening up; ’back from Zeal! How goes the sick man—Captain Trecarrel? Dear me! he represents a fine old family, de Esse, alias Trecarrel, argent two chevronels sable, with a mullet for a difference. A Devonshire family—the Esse of Ashe, and the elder branch, died out in an heiress who carried Ashe to the Drakes; but the second son, a long way back, married the heiress of Trecarrel, and dropped the patronymic for the place name. How is the last limb of a splendid tree?’ ’There is nothing more serious the matter with him than that he is going to marry the daughter of old Tramplara.’