tranquillise her old friend. "I am sure you always give very nice dinners," she said; "and then, you know, the Colonel has his favourite dishes--whereas, I must say for papa, he is very reasonable for a man. I am so glad you are pleased. It is very kind of you to say it is genius, but I don't pretend to anything but paying great attention and studying the combinations. There is nothing one cannot manage if one only takes the trouble. Come here to this nice easy-chair--it is so comfortable. It is so nice to have a little moment to ourselves before they come upstairs." "That is what I always say," said Mrs Chiley; "but there are not many girls so sensible as you, Lucilla. I hear them all saying it is so much better French fashion. Of course, I am an old woman, and like things in the old style." "I don't think it is because I am more sensible," said Miss Marjoribanks, with modesty. "I don't pretend to be better than other people. It is because I have thought it all over, you know--and then I went through a course of political economy when I was at Mount Pleasant," Lucilla said tranquilly, with an air of having explained the whole matter, which much impressed her hearer. "But for all that, something dreadful happened to-day. Tom brought in one of his friends with him, you know, and Miss Bury was here, and they talked--I want to tell you, in case she should say something, and then you will know what to believe. I never felt so dreadfully ashamed in my life--they talked----" "My dear! not anything improper, I hope," cried the old lady, in dismay. "Oh, no," said Lucilla; "but they began laughing about some people having no souls, you know--as if there could be anybody without a soul--and poor Miss Bury nearly fainted. You may think what a dreadful thing it was for me." "My dear child, if that was all," said Mrs Chiley, reassured--"as for everybody having a soul, I am sure I cannot say. You never were in India, to be sure; but Miss Bury should have known better than to faint at a young man's talk, and frighten you, my poor dear. She ought to be ashamed of herself, at her age. Do you think Tom has turned out clever?" the old lady continued, not without a little finesse, and watching Lucilla with a curious eye. "Not in the very least," said Miss Marjoribanks calmly; "he is just as awkward as he used to be. It is dreadful to have him here just now, when I have so many things to do--and then he would follow me about everywhere if I would let him. A cousin of that sort is always in the way." "I am always afraid of a cousin, for my part," said Mrs Chiley; "and talking of that, what do you think of Mr Cavendish, Lucilla? He is very nice in himself, and he has a nice property; and some people say he has a very good chance to be member for Carlingford when there is an election. I think that is just what would suit you."