"Oh, he's hopeless," Lady Burdon agreed. Her tone dismissed his name as though she found his hopelessness a little trying, and she went back to "Yes, splendid, won't it be? When I look back, Ella, everything has gone wonderfully. From the very beginning, you know--the very beginning, I planned a good marriage for Rollo. It was so essential. To be your Dora--well, that makes it perfect; yes, perfect!"--and Lady Burdon stretched out her hands and gave a happy little sigh as though she put her hands into a happy future and touched her Rollo there. "And I for Dora," Mrs. Espart said. "From the very beginning, too, I arranged great matches for Dora in my mind. That it should be your Rollo,"--she gave a little laugh at her adaptation of the words--"that it should be your Rollo--why, really, perfect is the word!" They were silent for a space, enjoying the beauty of the hillside that the thinning years were disclosing. "You've never said anything to Rollo?" Mrs. Espart asked. "Oh, no--no, not directly, anyway. It will come about naturally, I feel that. They are so much together. And in any case Dora--Dora is so wonderfully beautiful, Ella. I couldn't conceive any man not falling in love with her. In a year or so's time, developing as she is--why, you'll change your mind perhaps--when they're all worshipping her!" She laughed, and her laugh was very reassuringly returned. "But it is Rollo she will marry," Mrs. Espart smiled. "With her it is as you say with him--it will come naturally. In any case--well, she is being brought up as I was brought up. She is dutiful. You find so many girls encouraged in independence nowadays. Nothing is so harmful for a girl ultimately, I think." Lady Burdon nodded her agreement. "How happy Rollo will be!" she said, and spoke with a little sigh so caressingly maternal and with eyes so fondly beaming that Mrs. Espart put out a hand to touch her and told her, "I love your devotion to Rollo, Nellie." "He is everything to me," Lady Burdon said softly. "Everything!" "I know he is. Why, you look different again when you speak of him even! Do you know, you were looking wretchedly ill when I came this morning, I thought." "I had slept badly." Lady Burdon looked hesitatingly at her friend as though doubtful of the expediency of some further words she meditated. Then, "I had my nightmare," she said; and at the question framed on Mrs. Espart's lips went on impulsively: "Ella, I've never told you about my nightmare. I think I shall. It worries me. Do you know, just after we came into the title a girl came to see me and said she was the former Lord Burdon's wife." "_No_! What happened?" "Oh, nothing, of course--nothing serious. I sent her away. She said she would bring proofs; but I never saw her again."