Mr. Yorke laughed. “I think her all the more worthy of me. The only question that is apt to arise within me is, whether I am worthy of her. As we shall never agree upon this point, Lady Augusta, it may not be worth while to discuss it. About the other thing? I believe she would make an admirable governess for Caroline and Fanny, if you could obtain her.” “Oh, I dare say she would do _that_. She is a lady, and has been well educated. Would she want a large salary?” “Forty guineas a year, to begin with.” Lady Augusta interrupted him with a scream. “I never could give half of it! I am sure I never could. What with housekeeping expenses, and milliners’ bills, and visiting, and the boys everlastingly dragging money out of me, I have scarcely anything to spare for education.” “Yet it is more essential than all the rest. Your income, properly apportioned, would afford--” Another scream from Lady Augusta. Her son Theodore--Tod, familiarly--burst into the room, jacketless, his hair entangled, blood upon his face, and his shirt-sleeves in shreds. “You rebellious, wicked fright of a boy!” was the salutation of my lady, when she could recover breath. “Oh, it’s nothing, mamma. Don’t bother,” replied Master Tod, waving her off. “I have been going into Pierce, senior, and have polished him off with a jolly good licking. He won’t get me into a row again, I’ll bet.” “What row did he get you into?” “He’s a nasty, sneaking tattler, and he took and told something to Gaunt, and Gaunt put me up for punishment, and I had a caning from old Pye. I vowed I’d pay Pierce out for it, and I have done it, though he is a sight bigger than me.” “What was it about?” inquired Mr. Yorke. “The damaged surplice?” “Damaged surplice be hanged!” politely retorted the young gentleman, who, in gaining the victory, appeared to have lost his temper. “It was something concerning our lessons at the third desk, if you must know.” “You might be civil, Tod,” said Lady Augusta. “Look at your shirt! Who, do you suppose, is going to mend that?” “It can go unmended,” responded Master Tod. “I wish it was the fashion to go without clothes! They are always getting torn.” “I wish it was!” heartily responded my lady. That same evening, in returning to her house from a visit, Constance Channing encountered Mr. Yorke. He turned to walk with her to the door. “I intended to call this afternoon, Constance, but was prevented from doing so,” he observed. “I have spoken to Lady Augusta.” “Well?” she answered with a smile and a blush. “She would be very glad of _you_; but the difficulty, at first, appeared to be about salary. However, I pointed out a few home truths, and she admitted that if the girls were to be educated, she supposed she must pay for it. She will give you forty guineas a year; but you are to call upon her and settle other details. To-morrow, if it should be convenient to you.” Constance clasped her hands. “I am so pleased!” she exclaimed, in a low tone.