"Dear me, how sad! And they have been married so short a time,--not more than six months. She comes of a weakly stock, I fear. I always said she looked consumptive, poor thing! Dear little Glen Cottage! and to think it will change hands so soon again!" "You seem fond of it, Aunt Catherine," for her tone was full of regret. "My dear," she answered, seriously, "I always loved that cottage so! The drawing-room and the garden were just to my taste; and then the girls were so happy there." "Would you not like a grander house to live in?" he asked, in the same indifferent tone. "I do not think it is half good enough for you and the girls." Mrs. Challoner opened her eyes rather widely at this: but his voice gave her no clue to his real meaning, and she thought it was just his joking way with her. "It would seem a palace after this!" she returned, with a sigh. "Somehow, I never cared for great big houses, they are so much expense to keep up; and when one has not a man in the house----" "Why, you have me, Aunt Catherine!" speaking up rather briskly. "Yes, my dear; and you are a great comfort to us all. It is so nice to have some one to consult; and, though I would not say so to Nan for the world, Dick is so young that I never could consult him." "By the bye, that reminds me I must have a look at that young fellow," returned her nephew. "Let me see, the Oxford term is over, and he will be home again. Suppose I run over to Oldfield--it is no distance from town--and leave my card on Mr. Mayne senior?" "You, Harry!" And Mrs. Challoner looked quite taken aback at the proposition. "Well," he remarked, candidly, "I think it is about time something was done: Nan looks awfully serious sometimes. What is the good of being the head of one's family, if one is not to settle an affair like that? I don't feel inclined to put up with any more nonsense in that quarter, I can tell you that, Aunt Catherine." "But, Harry,"--growing visibly alarmed,--"you do not know Mr. Mayne: he can make himself so excessively disagreeable." "So can most men when they like." "Yes; but not exactly in that way. I believe he is really very fond of Dick; but he wants to order his life in his own way, and no young man will stand that." "No, by Jove! that is rather too strong for a fellow. I should say Master Dick could not put up with that." "It seems my poor Nan is not good enough for his son, just because she had no money and has been obliged to make herself useful. Does it not seem hard, Harry?--my beautiful Nan! And the Maynes are just nobodies: why, Mr. Mayne's father was only a shopkeeper in a very small way, and his wife's family was no better!"