"Oh no," replied Eugenia. "I don't mean that at all. I mean he is a little odd--uncertain. Sometimes he is so very much nicer than others. He gets queer fits of stiffness and reserve all of a sudden, and then one can make nothing of him. But oh," she exclaimed, checking herself suddenly, "I shouldn't criticise him in this way, for he has been so very good to me." "I don't think you have said anything very treasonable," said Roma. "I can understand what you mean. He is a sensitive man--almost too much so. He looks as if he had had troubles too, though he is cheerful and practical enough. There is something about him unlike most of the men one meets--they are as a rule so very like each other, or else there is something about me which draws out the same sort of remarks from nearly every young man I meet." "Really, Roma, I wish you would not talk such nonsense," said Gertrude, rising as she spoke. "I do think you should be more careful in what you say. You are getting into a way of thinking _you_ can do or say what you like, which strikes me as the reverse of good taste. I confess I do not like your travelling all the way from Marley with a person of whom you know next to nothing. I hardly even remember meeting this Mr Thurston at the Mountmorrises', and whether we did or not, that sort of introduction entails no more." "But you forget that I said he was a connexion of Eugenia's, Gertrude," said Roma, quietly but very distinctly. Mrs Eyrecourt's tone softened. "I did not notice what you said particularly," she replied, as she left the room. "Of course Eugenia will know I did not intend to be so rude as to speak disparagingly of any of her friends." Roma smiled. "All the same, Gertrude, like many other people, _is_ rude when she is cross," she remarked to Eugenia, for they were now by themselves. "Eugenia," noticing the puzzled expression of her companion's face, "why do you look so `funny?' Are you shocked at me?" "No," said Eugenia, "but I am not sure that I quite understand you." "I am not worth much study, I assure you," said Roma, contentedly. "You will understand all there is to understand very soon. Suppose we go out a little. By-the-bye, doesn't that child trouble you? I saw her out there with you for such a time this morning." "Floss," said Eugenia, "trouble me? Oh no. I like her. I should have been very dull without her." "So you have been dull? I was afraid of it. I saw the look on your face when I said how glad I was to be back at Winsley again." "Oh dear! I wish I could keep looks from my face," exclaimed Eugenia, pathetically. "Please forget about it. I should be so sorry to look as if I were not happy here. Beauchamp is so anxious that Mrs Eyrecourt and I should get on well. He is very fond of his sister, unusually so, isn't he?" "So he should be," replied Roma. "He owes her so much: so do I. She has been very good to us both."