“But sure, miss, I should think every woman, married or single, might know when a gentleman said any thing as was not becoming for her to listen to.” “Yes, certainly; but mamma says that in the great world a young woman might get herself talked about just for talking all about nothing at all, to one of those fashionable dandies, and that if she has a husband who knows the world well, he will tell her just how far she may listen to such people.” “Well, my dear Miss Lucy, we poor folks don’t understand about talking, and being talked about, and listening, and not listening. For my part, for as long as I have lived in this wicked world—and a wicked world it is in some ways—I never knew a young woman as was married to a young man as was the man of her heart, as ever lost her good name for all she might be affable and pleasant like with her neighbours. But the gentlefolks knows best, to be sure.” Milly was unsatisfactory: she saw what was going on in the family, and she could not like it: it was no business of hers, and she would never think of stepping out of her place. Lucy was uncomfortable. She loved Milly, and, moreover, she had settled in her own mind to love like Milly. She longed to know what she thought of Lord Montreville, and at length she plunged into the subject. “Don’t you think Lord Montreville is a very pleasing-looking man, Milly?” “Yes, miss; he looks very well for his years.” “He is so clever, you can’t think.” “Is he, miss?” “And so very good-natured!” “That is a good thing for all his servants, I am sure, miss.” “And for every one else who is connected with him.” “Yes, certainly, miss.” “He is the most agreeable person, and loves all sorts of animals, and seems to like to have every thing about him happy.” “Sure, miss.” “Do you know, Milly, I should not be very much surprised if you might some day have an opportunity of trying whether he made those around him happy or not.” “Indeed, miss!” “Mamma says she is convinced he likes me very much;” and she added, in a coaxing manner, “now what shall we do, you and I, Milly?” “I am sure, miss, it is just as you please.”