"'Crabbed age and youth cannot live together,'" said Mrs. Mornington, quoting one of the few poets with whom she had any acquaintance. "You and I would never think alike, I suppose, young woman. And so you refused Mr. Carew, and told him never to talk to you of love or wedlock, and you refused Beechhurst, yonder," pointing with her whip across the heath to where the white walls of Allan Carew's house smiled in the afternoon sunlight. "I know what your uncle Mornington will say when I tell him what a little fool you have been." "Auntie, why is it you want me to marry, Mr. Carew?" Suzette asked pleadingly. "Is it because he is rich? Is it for the sake of Beechhurst?" "No, Miss Minx, it is because I believe him to be a good young man--a gentleman--and as true as steel." Suzette gave a little sigh, and for a minute or so was dumb. "Do you know why I have always been glad that my father is an Englishman?" she asked presently. "Why, because he is an Englishman, I suppose. I should think any girl would be English if she could." "No, auntie, I am not so proud of my father's country as all that. I have been glad of my English father because I knew that English girls are allowed to make their own choice in marriage." "And a very pretty use you are going to make of your privileges, refusing the best young man in the neighbourhood. If you were my daughter, I should be half inclined to send for one of those whipping ladies we read about, and have you brought to your senses that way." "No, you wouldn't, auntie. You wouldn't be unkind to daughter or to niece." "Well, you have your father to account to. What will he say, I wonder?" "Only that his Suzie is to do just as she likes. Do you know that I refused a subaltern up at the Hills, a young man with an enormous fortune whom ever so many girls were trying to catch--girls and widows too--he might have had a large choice." "And what did my brother say to that?" "He only laughed, and told me that I knew my own value." Mrs. Mornington was thoughtful for the rest of the way. Perhaps, after all, it was a good thing for a girl to be difficult to please. A girl as bright and as pretty as Suzette could afford to give herself airs. Allan would be sure to propose to her again; and then there was Geoffrey Wornock, who was expected home before Christmas. Who could tell if Geoffrey might not be as deeply smitten with this charming hybrid as Allan? and Discombe was to Beechhurst as sunlight unto moonlight, in extensiveness and value. "And yet I would rather she should marry Carew," mused Mrs. Mornington. "I should be afraid of young Wornock." CHAPTER VIII. NOT YET.