“How silly you are, dear, to vex yourself in this way! Because my mother happens to be a vulgar fine lady--and believe me, Sophy pet, that no genuine lady (the kind of lady that your friends the knights worshipped), is ever rude--because my mother happens not to know how to behave herself, it behoves you to give her a lesson.” “Give her a lesson! Me!” exclaimed Sophy, in amazement. “Yes, _you_! Why not? Only be your own dear, merry, unaffected self, only show that you, tremendous heiress that you are (and which I never can get you to remember), are not to be put down and tyrannised over and browbeaten, and, believe me, Lady Millicent, like all bullies, will draw in her horns, and treat you with the respect that is your due.” “I don’t want respect,” sighed Sophy; “all I long for is affection. I should so like your mother to love me, Arthur. Just now, too,” and she blushed prettily, “I feel more than ever reminded that I have no mother of my own.” “And no great loss, either, if all mothers are like the only one that I have any experience of,” said Arthur lightly, while endeavouring to divert his wife’s thoughts into a more lively channel. “But, Sophy darling, if it bores you too much, you sha’n’t see milady. There is no positive necessity for it. I can easily say that Williams has ordered you to be quiet, and” (as he settled the cushion behind her shoulders, for Sophy was delicate, and both liked and required attention) “if you like it, I will stay and protect you, read to you, do what you like, dear, as your cold is to keep you at home this disagreeable day.” But to this sacrifice, for sacrifice she well knew it was, on her husband’s part, Sophy would not listen. He was the very best, the kindest, and the dearest, so, with grateful tears and smiles, she told him, of created beings. The idea of his giving up his ride for her! Who but himself would have dreamt of such an act of self-devotion? As regarded Lady Millicent’s visit, too, it was so very thoughtful, so nice of him to let her off. But Sophy could be self-sacrificing as well as he; so, though she felt weak and languid, she assured her hero that there was no necessity for either care or quiet, that she felt quite equal to the threatened visitation, and intended on that very day, provided that Lady Mill kept her promise of calling, to practise Arthur’s lesson on behaviour.