'I should like you to see him when he comes to mamma's weekly reception,' continued the young lady, as she frizzed up her hair and practised _œillades_ at herself in Alison's little mirror, 'but as a rule mamma never intrudes a governess on friends--excuse me saying so.' 'I am aware of that,' replied Alison, softly, and heedless of the cutting rudeness of the speech. 'Since Miss Smythe-Smythe was here, she fancies that governesses require to be snubbed.' 'Why?' 'As a matter of principle, I suppose; but, upon my soul, I think it is rather hard upon you,' continued this slangy young person. 'We met him at Mr. Taype the lawyer's house, in Sussex Gardens, and, as he is rich, mamma fastened on him at once for me, don't you know; oh, isn't it fun?' 'Are you engaged then?' asked Alison, when Miss De Jobbyns had expatiated on the subject for more than half an hour. 'Engaged--oh, no--not exactly yet--but it is only a matter of time. He showed a great desire to cultivate our family; or rather mamma determined to cultivate him. But, hang it all! He is very shy for an officer, and leaves me to do the spooning actually.' 'He is in the army then?' 'Yes; and hangs out at Aldershot.' Alison felt her colour change at the name of that locality; but she only said, 'Miss De Jobbyns, you should not use the fast phrases you do.' 'Well, ma uses them; ma always does.' She did not add, that which perhaps she did not know, that her 'ma' had whilom been most accomplished in 'sherry-glass flirtations' while behind the bar at the 'Black Swan.' 'Isn't spoon English?' she asked. 'It is slang.' 'Is it? Well, if the verb "to spoon" is slang, I like it--that is all! But I wish I could flirt.' 'For what purpose?' 'To draw him on. But simply I can't do it, he is so stand-off in his manner.' 'Why?' 'It is not my _forte_; I wish it was. There is Miss Le Robbynson, she can flirt with a dozen of men at once, and even make them quarrel about her.' 'But men as a rule dislike flirts, and don't marry them; and flirting is pretending to care for a person when you don't.' 'Ah; but I care a great deal for this fellow.' 'Fellow?' queried Alison, on whose delicate ear this girl's phraseology jarred sorely. 'Well, my military beau?' 'You should not adopt this style.' 'You are not my governess!' retorted Miss De Jobbyns, with some asperity. 'Some day, no doubt, I shall see your intended.' The daughter of the house blushed with pleasure at the phrase; but thought that, with a governess so undeniably handsome, it might be better that no meeting took place as yet. Suddenly she said, 'You have some fellow's photo that you wear at your neck; you have it on now,' she added, making a clutch at a ribbon which encircled the slender throat of Alison, who instinctively drew back and placed a hand upon her bosom. 'Some fellow's photo!--how _can_ you use such a style of language?' she asked, haughtily.