George Gage stared directly. He had a great fancy for seeing women in fine clothes; and clothes that looked as if they cost a great deal of money. He took her into dinner, and tried to command his temper, and keep up a conversation with her. "You drove out after luncheon, did you not?" "Yes. Did not you hear Uncle Gage and me planning a secret expedition together?" "No. Might I ask where you went?" "We went all the way to S----. Are you not very anxious to learn our object?" "If it is not a breach of confidence, certainly." "You could not guess, Mr. Gage?" "I fear not." "It was to get pack-thread for garden-nets." "A very important mission," said Mr. Gage. "You will think it important when the season comes for fruit; but, perhaps, you will not be here." "I shall not. I go back to Ireland in about a fortnight." "Still you know, though you will not be here to steal the plums, other people will be enjoying them; and you can leave word with the gardener to send your friend, little Blanche Somerton, the first basket of ripe cherries." "I really do not know any person of that name," said Mr. Gage, indignantly. "Well, after that!" said Harriet lifting up her hands. "Hubert, I hope you saw what was going on this morning." "Oh, yes! I saw plainly enough," said Hubert. "She is a great flirt, that little thing; and rather pretty, I think." "Very pretty!" said Harriet magnanimously. "I was not blaming Mr. Gage. I merely suggested a little offering--quite a cottage offering Mr. Gage." "Oh! the little creature who was here this morning," said Mr. Gage; "rather a nice little creature! Yes, I should not object taking her a basket of cherries." "You could eat them with her like Napoleon, you know," said Harriet. Here Hubert burst into a violent fit of laughter, at the idea of his brother doing anything like Napoleon. "She is a very pretty girl," said Captain Gage, joining in the discussion. "Did not you dance with her a good deal at the ball, Hubert?" "Yes, Sir, that is, I believe, once or twice. That miserable ball," he added in a low voice to Margaret. "Oh, Mr. Hubert!" said Margaret laughing. Elizabeth Gage did not say one word either for or against Blanche Somerton. She knew her to be almost devoid of good qualities; but she knew that people, men especially, will always form their own opinion. "You shall sing, little one;" said Harriet to Margaret after tea. "I will not let you off any longer." "No. It distresses her, Harriet," said Elizabeth kindly, "I never press her." "I dare say. Is she to have her own way always? I want to hear the quality of her voice," said Harriet positively. "Indeed, Harriet, I am not a man; you might let me have my way," said Margaret, shrinking back from the piano. "My dear Harriet, I hope you apply that remark; there is a little bit of unconscious satire in it," said Elizabeth.