"I hope everybody has that," said she. "I fear not; not anyone to love with a perfect love. Who does Miss Todd love?" "Miss Baker." "Does she? And yet they live apart, and rarely see each other. They think differently on all subjects. That is not the love of which I am speaking. And you, Miss Mackenzie, are you sure that you love anyone with that perfect all-trusting, love?" "I love my niece Susanna best," said she. "Your niece, Susanna! She is a sweet child, a sweet girl; she has everything to make those love her who know her; but--" "You don't think anything amiss of Susanna, Mr Maguire?" "Nothing, nothing; Heaven forbid, dear child! And I think so highly of you for your generosity in adopting her." "I could not do less than take one of them, Mr Maguire." "But I meant a different kind of love from that. Do you feel that your regard for your niece is sufficient to fill your heart?" "It makes me very comfortable." "Does it? Ah! me; I wish I could make myself comfortable." "I should have thought, seeing you so much in Mrs Stumfold's house--" "I have the greatest veneration for that woman, Miss Mackenzie! I have sometimes thought that of all the human beings I have ever met, she is the most perfect; she is human, and therefore a sinner, but her sins never meet my eyes." Miss Mackenzie, who did not herself regard Mrs Stumfold as being so much better than her neighbours, could not receive this with much rapture. "But," continued Mr Maguire, "she is as cold--as cold--as cold as ice." As the lady in question was another man's wife, this did not seem to Miss Mackenzie to be of much consequence to Mr Maguire, but she allowed him to go on. "Stumfold I don't think minds it; he is of that joyous disposition that all things work to good for him. Even when she's most obdurate in her sternness to him--" "Law! Mr Maguire, I did not think she was ever stern to him." "But she is, very hard. Even then I don't think he minds it much. But, Miss Mackenzie, that kind of companion would not do for me at all. I think a woman should be soft and soothing, like a dove." She did not stop to think whether doves are soothing, but she felt that the language was pretty. Just at this moment she was summoned by Miss Baker, and looking up she perceived that Mr and Mrs Fuzzybell were already leaving the room. "I don't know why you need disturb Miss Mackenzie," said Miss Todd, "she has only got to go next door, and she seems very happy just now." "I would sooner go with Miss Baker," said Miss Mackenzie. "Mr Maguire would see you home," suggested Miss Todd. But Miss Mackenzie of course went with Miss Baker, and Mr Rubb accompanied them. "Good-night, Mr Rubb," said Miss Todd; "and don't make very bad reports of us in London." "Oh! no; indeed I won't." "For though we do play cards, we still stick to decorum, as you must have observed to-night."