Janet laid down her knitting. "What do you mean? That there should be two mistresses in the house, she and I? No, no, Thomas; the daftest old wife in the parish would tell you that does not do." "Not two mistresses. You would be sole mistress, as you are now: I and Ethel your guests. Janet, indeed it would be the better plan. By the spring we should see how Sir George went on. If he improved, then the question could be definitively settled: and either you or I would take up our residence elsewhere. If he does not improve, I fear, Janet, that spring will have seen the end." Something in the words appeared particularly to excite Janet's attention. She gazed at Thomas as if she would search him through and through. "By spring!" she repeated. "When, then, do you contemplate marrying Ethel?" "I should like her to be mine by Christmas," was the low answer. "Thomas! And December close upon us!" "If not, some time in January," he continued, paying no attention to her surprise. "It is so decided." Miss Godolphin drew a long breath. "With whom is it decided?" "With Ethel." "You would marry a wife without a home to bring her to? Had thoughtless George told me that he was going to do such a thing, I could have believed it of him. Not of you, Thomas." "Janet, the home shall no longer be a barrier to us. I wish you would receive Ethel here as your guest." "It is not likely that she would come. The first thing a married woman looks for is to have a home of her own." Thomas smiled. "Not come, Janet? Have you yet to learn how unassuming and meek is the character of Ethel? We have spoken of this plan together, and Ethel's only fear is, lest she should 'be in Miss Godolphin's way.' Failing to carry out this project, Janet--for I see you are, as I thought you would be, prejudiced against it--I shall hire a lodging as near to the bank as may be, and there I shall take Ethel." "Would it be seemly that the heir of Ashlydyat should go into lodgings on his marriage?" asked Janet, grief and sternness in her tone. "Things are seemly or unseemly, Janet, according to circumstances. It would be more seemly for the heir of Ashlydyat to take temporary lodgings while waiting for Ashlydyat, than to turn his sisters from their home for a month, or a few months, as the case might be. The pleasantest plan would be for me to bring Ethel here: as your guest. It is what she and I should both like. If you object to this, I shall take her elsewhere. Bessy and Cecil would be delighted with the arrangement: they are fond of Ethel." "And when children begin to come, Thomas?" cried Miss Godolphin in her old-fashioned, steady, Scotch manner. She had a great deal of her mother about her. Thomas's lips parted with a quaint smile. "Things will be decided, one way or the other, months before children shall have had time to arrive." Janet knitted a whole row before she spoke again. "I will take a few hours to reflect upon it, Thomas," she said then.