Jane for once lost her self-possession. So surprised was she--in fact perplexed, for she did not know whether Francis was playing a trick upon her now, or whether he had previously played it; in short, whether this was, or was not, Mr. Halliburton--that she could only look from one to the other. "Are you Mr. Halliburton?" she said, in her straightforward simplicity. "I am Mr. Halliburton," he answered, bending to her politely. "Can I have the pleasure of seeing Mr. Tait?" "Will you take a seat?" said Jane. "Papa is out, but I do not think he will be very long." "Where did he go to--do you know, Jane?" cried Francis, who was smothering a laugh. "To Betty King's; and to Widow Booth's. He may have been going elsewhere also. I think he was." "At any rate, I'll just run there and see. Jane, you can tell Mr. Halliburton all about it whilst I am away. Explain to him exactly how he will be here, and how we live. And then you can decide for yourself, sir," concluded Francis. To splash through the wet streets to Betty King's or elsewhere was an expedition rather agreeable to Francis, in his eagerness; otherwise there was no particular necessity for his going. "I am sorry mamma is not up," said Jane. "She suffers from occasional sick-headaches, and they generally keep her in bed for the day. I will give you any information in my power." "Your brother Francis thought--that it might not be disagreeable to Mr. Tait to receive a stranger into his family," said Mr. Halliburton, speaking with some hesitation. But the young lady before him looked so lady-like, the house altogether seemed so well appointed, that he almost doubted whether the proposal would not offend her. "We wish to receive some one," said Jane. "The house is sufficiently large to do so, and papa would like it for the sake of society: as well as that it would help in our housekeeping," she added, in her candour. "A friend of papa's was with us--I cannot remember precisely how many years, but he came when I was a little girl. It was the Rev. Mr. Acton. He left us last October." "I feel sure that I should like it very much: and I should think myself fortunate if Mr. Tait would admit me," spoke the visitor. Jane remembered the suggestion of Francis, and deemed it her duty to speak a little to Mr. Halliburton of "how he would be there," as it had been expressed. She might have done so without the suggestion, for she could not be otherwise than straightforward and open. "We live very plainly," she observed. "A simple joint of meat one day; cold, with a pudding, the next." "I should consider myself fortunate to get the pudding," replied Mr. Halliburton, smiling. "I have been tossed about a good deal of late years, Miss Tait, and have not come in for too much comfort. Just now I am in very uncomfortable lodgings." "I dare say papa would like to have you," said Jane, frankly, with a sort of relief. She had thought he looked one who might be fastidious.