"You need not have told _that_, I think." "And has got on by attention and perseverance to be a clerk. He is twenty-two now." "If he gets on to be a partner--if he gets on to be sole proprietor--you cannot separate him from himself!" shrieked Charlotte. "Look here, Betsey; sooner than you should marry that low man, I'll have you to live with me. You can make yourself useful." "Thank you kindly, Charlotte, all the same; but I could not come to you. You see, you and I do not get on together. It is my fault, I know, being so inferior; but I can't help it. Besides, I have promised David Dundyke." Charlotte looked at her. "You do not mean to tell me that you have any _love_ for this David Dundyke?" Another bright blush, and Betsey cast down her pretty blue eyes. "We have seen so much of each other, Charlotte," she said, in a tone of apology; "he brings the books home nearly every evening now, instead of doing them out." "Well, I shan't stop with you," concluded Charlotte, moving to the door. "I'm afraid to stop, for I truly believe you are going on for Bedlam. And _you'd_ better make haste, if you want to do anything to yourself. Supper will be ready directly." "One moment, Charlotte," said Betsey, detaining her--"I want to say only a word. They were speaking downstairs this evening of a family of the name of Hughes--a Mr. Edward Hughes, and some sisters." "Well?" cried Charlotte. "I think they are related to Mrs. Dundyke. She has relatives in Westerbury of that name; she has mentioned it several times since you came down. One or two of the sisters are dressmakers." "Pleasant!" ejaculated Charlotte. "Are they intimate?" "Not at all. I don't think they have met for years, and I am sure they never correspond. But when you were all speaking of the Hughes's to-night, I thought it must be the same. I did not like to say so." "And it's well you did not," was Charlotte's comment. "Those Hughes people have not been in good odour in Westerbury since last December." She went downstairs in a thoughtful mood, her brain at work upon the question of whether Betsey _could_ be in her right mind. The revelation regarding Mr. David Dundyke caused her really to doubt it. She, Charlotte Travice, had a sufficiently correct taste--to give her her due--and it would have been simply impossible to her to have associated herself for life with anyone not possessing, outwardly at any rate, the attributes of a gentleman. CHAPTER IX. DISPLEASING EYES.