"And here's her brother engaged to Marion Fay," said Clara. Crocker declared that as to this he was by no means so well assured. Lord Hampstead in spite of their intimacy had told him nothing about it. "But it is so, Mr. Crocker, as sure as ever you are sitting there. He has been coming here after her over and over again, and was closeted with her only last Friday for hours. It was a holiday, but that sly old Quaker went out of the way, so as to leave them together. That Mrs. Roden, though she's as stiff as buckram, knows all about it. To the best of my belief she got it all up. Marion Fay is with her every day. It's my belief there's something we don't understand yet. She's got a hold of them young people, and means to do just what she likes with 'em." Crocker, however, could not agree to this. He had heard of Lord Hampstead's peculiar politics, and was assured that the young lord was only carrying out his peculiar principles in selecting Marion Fay for himself and devoting his sister to George Roden. "Not that I like that kind of thing, if you ask me," said Crocker. "I'm very fond of Hampstead, and I've always found Lady Frances to be a pleasant and affable lady. I've no cause to speak other than civil of both of them. But when a man has been born a lord, and a lady a lady--. A lady of that kind, Miss Demijohn." "Oh, exactly;--titled you mean, Mr. Crocker?" "Quite high among the nobs, you know. Hampstead will be a Marquis some of these days, which is next to a Duke." "And do you know him,--yourself?" asked Tribbledale with a voice of awe. "Oh, yes," said Crocker. "To speak to him when you see him?" "I had a long correspondence with him about a week ago about a matter which interested both of us very much." "And how does he address you?" asked Clara,--also with something of awe. "'Dear Crocker;'--just that. I always say 'My dear Lord Hampstead,' in return. I look upon 'Dear Hampstead,' as a little vulgar, you know, and I always think that one ought to be particular in these matters. But, as I was saying, when it comes to marriage, people ought to be true to themselves. Now if I was a Marquis,--I don't know what I mightn't do if I saw you, you know, Clara." "Clara" pouted, but did not appear to have been offended either by the compliment or by the familiarity. "But under any other circumstances less forcible I would stick to my order." "So would I," said Mrs. Duffer. "Marquises ought to marry marquises, and dukes dukes." "There it is!" said Clara, "and now we must drink its health, and I hope we may be all married to them we like best before it comes round again." This had reference to the little clock on the mantelpiece, the hands of which had just crept round to twelve o'clock. "I wish we might," said Crocker, "and have a baby in the cradle too." "Go away," said Clara. "That would be quick," said Mrs. Duffer. "What do you say, Mr. Tribbledale?"