“It depends upon what people think pleasure,” said Patricia. “I am sure you that have so much to do, and all your little brothers and sisters to look after, and no society, should be worse off than me and Joanna; but it’s very seldom that any thing pleasant happens to us.” “Never mind her, Katie. Listen to me. I’m going to Edinburgh to school,” cried Joanna. “I don’t know whether to like it or to be angry. What would you do, if you were me?” “I don’t think I could fancy myself you, Joanna,” said Katie, laughing; “but I should have liked it when I was younger, and had less to do. I’m to go in with papa if he goes to the Assembly this May. We have friends in Edinburgh, and I like it for that--besides the Assembly and all the things country folk see there.” “But Edinburgh is a very poor place after being in London,” said Patricia; “if you could only see Clapham, where _I_ was at school! But Mr. Cassilis is a cousin of yours--is he not? I suppose he told you how papa behaved to me when he was last at Melmar.” “No, indeed--he did not,” said Katie, with some curiosity. “Oh! I thought perhaps he noticed it, being a stranger,” said Patricia; “do you know what was his business with papa?” “No.” “You might tell _us_--for we ought to hear, if it is any thing important,” said Patricia; “and as for papa, he never lets us know any thing till everybody else has heard it first. I am sure it was some business, and business which made papa as cross as possible; do tell us what it was.” “I don’t know any thing about it,” said Katie. “My cousin staid here only two or three days, and he never spoke of business to me.” “Oh! but you know what he came here about,” insisted Patricia. “He came to see us, and also--oh, yes--to manage something for the Livingstones, of Norlaw,” said Katie, with a slight increase of color. For the moment she had actually forgotten this last and more important reason for the visit of the young lawyer, having a rather uncomfortable impression that “to see us” was a more urgent inducement to Cousin Charlie than it had better be. She paused accordingly with a slight embarrassment, and began to busy herself opening her work basket. Patricia Huntley was not a person of the liveliest intelligence in general, but she was quick-sighted enough to see that Katie stumbled in her statement, and drew up her small shoulders instantly with two distinct sentiments of jealous offense and disapproval, the first relating to the presumption of the minister’s daughter in appropriating the visit of Cassilis to herself, and the second to a suggestion of the possible rivalry, which could affect the house of Melmar in the family of Norlaw.