“Then I suppose you must be married, May. I see nothing else for you,” said Agnes, “for there could not possibly be two Miss Willsies; but I should like to see, in a fairy glass, who my other brother was to be. He must be clever, Marian, and it would be very pleasant if he could be rich, and I suppose he ought to be handsome too.” “Oh, Agnes! handsome of course, first of all!” cried Marian, laughing, “nobody but you would put that last.” “But then I rather like ugly people, especially if they are clever,” said Agnes; “there is Charlie, for example. If he was _very_ ugly, what an odd couple you would be!--he ought to be ugly for a balance--and very witty and very pleasant, and ready to do anything for you, May. Then if he were only rich, and you could have a carriage, and be a great lady, I think I should be quite content.” “Hush, Agnes! mamma will hear you--and now there is Charlie with a book,” said Marian. “Look! he is quite as mysterious in the moonlight as the other man--only Charlie could never be like a ghost--and I wonder what the book is. Come, Agnes, open the door.” This was the conclusion of the half-hour’s practising; they made grievously little progress with their music, yet it was by no means an unpleasant half-hour. CHAPTER XII. A SERIOUS QUESTION. Mrs Atheling has been calling upon Miss Willsie, partly to intercede for Hannah, the pretty maid, partly on a neighbourly errand of ordinary gossip and kindliness; but in decided excitement and agitation of mind Mamma has come home. It is easy to perceive this as she hurries up-stairs to take off her shawl and bonnet; very easy to notice the fact, as, absent and preoccupied, she comes down again. Bell and Beau are in the kitchen, and the kitchen-door is open. Bell has Susan’s cat, who is very like to scratch her, hugged close in her chubby arms. Beau hovers so near the fire, on which there is no guard, that his mother would think him doomed did she see him; but--it is true, although it is almost unbelievable--Mamma actually passes the open kitchen-door without observing either Bell or Beau! The apples of her eye! Mrs Atheling has surely something very important to occupy her thoughts; and now she takes her usual chair, but does not attempt to find her work-basket. What can possibly have happened to Mamma? The girls have not to wait very long in uncertainty. The good mother speaks, though she does not distinctly address either of them. “They want a lad like Charlie in Mr Foggo’s office,” said Mrs Atheling. “I knew that, and that Charlie could have the place; but they also want an articled clerk.” “An articled clerk!--what is that, mamma?” said Agnes, eagerly. To tell the truth, Mrs Atheling did not very well know what it was, but she knew it was “something superior,” and that was enough for her motherly ambition.