"Of course. I have neither father nor mother: Lion has been both to me. Aunty has often said, 'You cannot be too grateful to your guardian; without him I should have no home to shelter you, no bread to give you.' He never said that: he would be very angry with aunty if he knew she had said it. When he does not call me Fairy he calls me Princess. I would not displease him for the world." "He is very much older than you; old enough to be your father, I hear." "I dare say. But if he were twice as old I could not love him better." Kenelm smiled: the jealousy was gone. Certainly not thus could any girl, even Lily, speak of one with whom, however she might love him, she was likely to fall in love. Lily now rose up, rather slowly and wearily. "It is time to go home: aunty will be wondering what keeps me away,--come." They took their way towards the bridge opposite to Cromwell Lodge. It was not for some minutes that either broke silence. Lily was the first to do so, and with one of those abrupt changes of topic which were common to the restless play of her secret thoughts. "You have father and mother still living, Mr. Chillingly?" "Thank Heaven, yes." "Which do you love the best?" "That is scarcely a fair question. I love my mother very much; but my father and I understand each other better than--" "I see: it is so difficult to be understood. No one understands me." "I think I do." Lily shook her head with an energetic movement of dissent. "At least as well as a man can understand a young lady." "What sort of young lady is Miss Cecilia Travers?" "Cecilia Travers! When and how did you ever hear that such a person existed?" "That big London man whom they call Sir Thomas mentioned her name the day we dined at Braefieldville." "I remember,--as having been at the Court ball." "He said she was very handsome." "So she is." "Is she a poem too?" "No; that never struck me." "Mr. Emlyn, I suppose, would call her perfectly brought up,--well educated. He would not raise his eyebrows at her as he does at me,--poor me, Cinderella!" "Ah, Miss Mordaunt, you need not envy her. Again let me say that you could very soon educate yourself to the level of any young ladies who adorn the Court balls." "Ay; but then I should not be a poem," said Lily, with a shy, arch side-glance at his face. They were now on the bridge, and before Kenelm could answer Lily resumed quickly, "You need not come any farther; it is out of your way." "I cannot be so disdainfully dismissed, Miss Mordaunt; I insist on seeing you to at least your garden gate." Lily made no objection and again spoke,-- "What sort of country do you live in when at home; is it like this?"