There was something a little alarming in this, but on the whole the visit was very pleasant and encouraging to Mrs. Egremont; and she began rejoicing over the kindness as soon as the Canon had summoned his son, and they had gone away together. 'I am sure you must be delighted with your uncle and cousin, my dear,' she said. 'He's not a bit my notion of a priest,' returned Nuttie. 'And I don't believe he has any daily prayers!' 'He is old-fashioned, my dear.' 'One of the stodgey old clergymen in books,' observed Nuttie. 'I didn't think there were any of that sort left.' 'Oh, my dear, pray don't take fancies into your head! He is a very, very good man, and has been most kind to me, far more than I deserve, and he is your uncle, Nuttie. I do so hope you will get on well with your cousins.' Here a gong, a perfectly unknown sound to Nuttie, made itself heard, and rather astonished her by the concluding roar. The two ladies came out into the hall as Mr. Egremont was crossing it. He made an inclination of the head, and uttered a sort of good morning to his daughter, but she was perfectly content to have no closer salutation. Having a healthy noonday appetite, her chief wish was at the moment that those beautiful little cutlets, arranged in a crown form, were not so very tiny; or that, with two men-servants looking on, it were possible to attain to a second help, but she had already learnt that Gregorio would not hear her, and that any attempt to obtain more food frightened her mother. 'So his reverence has been to see you,' observed Mr. Egremont. 'William, if you like it better.' 'Oh yes, and he was kindness itself!' 'And how did Master Mark look at finding I could dispense with his assistance?' 'I think he is very glad.' Mr. Egremont laughed. 'You are a simple woman, Edda! The pose of virtuous hero was to have been full compensation for all that it might cost him! And no doubt he looks for the reward of virtue likewise.' Wherewith he looked full at Ursula, who, to her extreme vexation, felt herself blushing up to the ears. She fidgeted on her chair, and began a most untrue 'I'm sure--' for, indeed, the poor girl was sure of nothing, but that her father's manner was most uncomfortable to her. His laugh choked whatever she might have said, which perhaps was well, and her mother's cheeks glowed as much as hers did. 'Did the Canoness--Jane, I mean--come up?' Mr. Egremont went on. 'Mrs. Egremont? No; she sent word that she is coming after luncheon.'