"Excellent, thank goodness! He is to drive out on Wednesday, if the weather is favourable. I felt so soothed and comforted by Dr. Hatch's report, that I thought I would indulge myself with half an hour of perfect laziness," added Mrs. Bransby, with a deprecating glance at Theodore. She constantly reproved herself for assuming an apologetic attitude towards her stepson, but constantly recurred to it; she was so keenly conscious of his--always unexpressed--criticism. "Mrs. Hadlow desired to send word that the canon means to call on my father this afternoon, if he is well enough to see him." "Oh yes; a talk with Canon Hadlow will do him good." Then, after an instant's pause, Mrs. Bransby asked, "Have you been in College Quad, then?" "I lunched with Mrs. Hadlow. Rivers was there; I parted from him just now. And Miss Cheffington." "Oh, really? Mrs. Hadlow is very kind to that little May Cheffington." Theodore made no answer, but looked stiffly at the fire. Mrs. Bransby went on: "I saw her in the cathedral at afternoon service yesterday, with the Hadlows. It struck me she was growing quite pretty. Don't you think so?" "I should not call her _pretty_----" began Theodore slowly. Mrs. Bransby broke in: "Well, of course, she is eclipsed by Constance. Constance is so very handsome. But still----" "I should not describe Miss Cheffington as _pretty_," pursued Theodore, in an inflexible kind of way. "She is something more than pretty. She looks thoroughbred." "But that's exactly what she is _not_, isn't it?" exclaimed Mrs. Bransby impulsively. "I am not sure that I apprehend you." "I mean her mother was quite a common person, was she not?" "A woman takes her husband's rank." "Yes; but she doesn't inherit his ancestors. Besides, one really doesn't know much about the father, for that matter. To be sure, Simmy was making a great flourish about May's grand relations in London this morning. But then all poor dear Simmy's geese are swans." (The name of "Simmy" had been bestowed on Mrs. Simpson by the youngest little Bransby but one; and although the elder children were reproved for using it, the appellation had come to be that by which she was most familiarly known in the Bransby family.) "Mrs. Simpson is a silly person, but her information happens, in this case, to be correct," returned Theodore. "The relations with whom Miss Cheffington is going to live in London are friends of mine." "Oh! Then what Simmy said is true?" said Mrs. Bransby simply. Theodore proceeded, with a scarcely perceptible hesitation, "I think you might invite Miss Cheffington here before she goes to town. I--I should be obliged to you for the opportunity of showing her some attention, in return for the Dormer-Smiths' kindness to me in London."