“What could papa find to object to?” said Bee. “Why, it was he who introduced him to us! We should not have known Aubrey, and I should never have been the happiest girl in the world, if it had not been for papa. Dear papa! I know what he’ll say: ‘I can’t understand, my dear, why you should hesitate for a moment. Of course, you don’t suppose I should have introduced Mr. Leigh to my family without first ascertaining, &c., &c.’ That, of course, is what papa will say.” “I dare say you are right, Bee. It is quite what I expect, for, of course, a man with girls knows what it is, though for my part I confess I always thought it would be a soldier--Captain Kreutzner or Otto von----” “Mamma!” cried Bee, almost violently, light flashing out of the blue eyes, which were so bright even on ordinary occasions as to dazzle the beholder--you may imagine what fire came out of them now--“as if I should ever have looked twice at one of those big, brainless, clinking and clanking Germans. (N.B.--Mr. Aubrey Leigh was not tall.) No! Though I may like foreigners well enough because it’s amusing to talk their language and to feel that one has such an advantage in knowing German and all that--yet, when it comes to be a question of spending one’s life, an Englishman for me!” Thus, it will be seen, Bee forestalled the patriotic sentiments of a later generation by resolving, in spite of all temptations, to belong to other nations--to select an Englishman for her partner in life. It is doubtful, however, how far this virtuous resolution had existed in her mind before the advent of Aubrey Leigh. “I am sure I am very glad, Bee,” said her mother, “for I always had a dread that you would be snatched off somewhere to--Styria or Dalecarlia, or heaven knows where--(these were the first out-of-the-way names that came to Mrs. Kingsward’s mind; but I don’t know that they were altogether without reference or possibilities), where one would have had no chance of seeing you more than once in two or three years. I am very thankful it is to be an Englishman--or at least I shall be,” she added, with a sigh of suspense, “as soon as I have heard from papa----” “One would think, _Mütterchen_, that you were frightened for papa.” “I shouldn’t like you ever to try and go against him, Bee!” “Oh, no,” said Bee, lightly, “of course I shouldn’t think of going against him--is the inquisition over?--for I promised,” she said, with a laugh and a blush, “to walk down with Aubrey as far as the river. He likes that so much better than those noisy blazing gardens, with no shade except under those stuffy trees--and so do I.” “Do you really, Bee? I thought you thought it was so nice sitting under the trees----” “With all the _gnadige_ Fraus knitting, and all the _wohlgeborne_ Herrs smoking. No, indeed, I always hated it!” said Bee.