“Well, yes; at least I don’t know. I understand that Morris has improved that blessed apparatus of his, and the new parson and his daughter have floated to our doors like driftwood. By the way, have you seen Miss Fregelius?” “Seen her? Yes, I have seen her.” “She is a wonderfully captivating girl, isn’t she? So unusual, with those great eyes of hers that seem to vary with the light——” “Like a cat’s,” snapped Eliza. “The light within—I was going to say.” “Oh! I thought you meant the light without. Well, she may be fascinating—to men, but as I am only a woman, I cannot be expected to appreciate that. You see we look more to other things.” “Ah. Well, so far as I am a judge she seemed to me to be pretty well set up in them also. She has a marvellous voice, is certainly a first-class violinist, and I should say extremely well-read, especially in Norse literature.” “Oh! I daresay she is a genius as well as a beauty.” “I gather,” said the Colonel with a smile, “that you do not like Miss Fregelius. As my acquaintance with her is limited, would you think me rude if I asked why?” “How can I be expected to like her, seeing——” and she paused. “Seeing what, Miss Layard?” “What, haven’t you heard? I thought it was common property.” He shook his head. “I have heard nothing. Go on, pray, this is quite interesting.” “That she led on that silly brother of mine until he proposed to her—yes, proposed to her!—and then refused him. Stephen has been like a crazy creature ever since, moaning, and groaning, and moping till I think that he will go off his head, instead of returning thanks to Providence for a merciful escape.” The Colonel set his lips as though to whistle, then checked himself. “Under the circumstances, presuming them to be accurately stated, I am not prepared to say who is to be congratulated or who should thank Providence. These things are so individual, are they not? But if one thing is clear, whatever else she is or is not, Miss Fregelius cannot be a fortune-hunter, although she must want money.” “She may want other things more.” “Perhaps. But I am very stupid, I am afraid I do not understand.” “Men, for instance,” suggested Eliza. “Dear me! that sounds almost carnivorous. I am afraid that there are not many about here to satisfy her appetite. Your brother, Morris, the curate at Morton, and myself, if at my age I may creep into that honourable company, are the only single creatures within four miles, and from these Stephen and Morris must apparently be eliminated.” “Why should Morris be eliminated?” “A reason may occur to you.” “Do you mean because he is engaged? What on earth does that matter?” “Nothing—in the East—but, rightly or wrongly, we have decided upon a monogamous system; a man can’t marry two wives, Miss Layard.” “But he can throw over one girl to marry another.” “Do you suggest that Morris is contemplating this experiment?” “I? I suggest nothing; all I know is——” “Well, now, what do you know?”