Mrs. Fenner meanwhile had laid Miles Echlin’s letter before the rector and his wife, not without certain misgivings as to how the contents would strike them. Lady Elgitha at once saw the importance of the question, and quickly set herself to consider how it might affect her own household. She was personally attached to Margaret, as far at least as she could be attached to anyone unconnected with the great house of Manners, and she had always felt that it was respectable to have her husband’s widowed sister living, as it were, under the shelter of the rectory, especially as she was the widow of a man who must have been a general and a K.C.B. at the very least, if he had lived. Mark, too, had by a certain natural joyousness of temper unconsciously maintained himself in her good graces, but Eveline was already rather a difficulty to Lady Elgitha. She was decidedly so much prettier than Elgitha that it had sometimes struck the rector’s wife of late that it was unfortunate to have to introduce as her niece a girl who must be more attractive than her own daughter; it would be well at least that Eveline should be withdrawn before Elgitha came out. These thoughts shot through Lady Elgitha’s brain while the rector was taking in the idea that a great piece of good fortune had befallen his sister, which must entail nothing but loss and bereavement on him. “We shall miss you, Margaret,” he said, while the tears rose to his eyes. “We shall miss each other, James,” replied his sister, softly. “But what do you and Elgitha think? It is very kind of Miles, and the prettiest compliment he could have paid dear Mark; but we need not accept it, you know, if you think——” “Of course you must accept it, Margaret,” said Lady Elgitha, and there was a touch of east wind in her voice which made the brother and sister shrink and feel ashamed; “it would be flying in the face of Providence not to accept such an offer. What is to become of Eveline if you die? You can’t depend even on a pretty girl’s marrying nowadays, if she has no fortune.” “Yes, I think it would certainly be good for Eveline, and it would be so nice for Mark. I am sure Miles deserves all we can do for him.” “Of course; and when you’re tired of London, you can always run down here, and I daresay Eveline will be glad to have Elgitha up for a week or two in the season. It would be a good opportunity for her to have some lessons. I’m sure, Margaret, you have much to be thankful for—Mark so well provided for, and such an opening for you and Eveline.” And Lady Elgitha sighed, for she caught sight of her son coming up the path with his hat at the back of his head and his hands in the pocket of his loose shooting-coat, looking the picture of idleness.