"O no," he replied; "it is over there," giving a little backward nod. "And are we not going to look at the glass?" "Not at present," he said, softly. "That will keep. We'll look at it by-and-bye. First, I am going to show you the pictures. You are fond of pictures, are you not?" "I am, indeed." "Yes, I was certain of it. Come along, then, I can show you a few tolerably good ones. Won't you take my arm?" She took his arm, as he seemed to expect it, though it would have been more reasonable if he had taken hers; and they marched upstairs, slowly, in face of the crowd that was coming down. "My wife," said the major, sententiously, "is one of the best women that ever breathed." "I am _sure_ she is," assented Elizabeth, with warmth. "No," he said, "_you_ can't be sure; that is why I tell you. I have known her a long time, and experience has proved it to me. She is one of the best women that ever lived. But she has her faults. I think I ought to warn you, Miss King, that she has her faults." "I think you ought not," said Elizabeth, with instinctive propriety. "Yes," he went on, "it is a point of honour. I owe it to you, as the head of my house--the nominal head, you understand--the responsible head--not to let you labour under any delusion respecting us. It is best that you should know the truth at once. Mrs. Duff-Scott is _energetic_. She is fearfully, I may say abnormally, energetic." "I think," replied Elizabeth, with decision, "that that is one of the finest qualities in the world." "Ah, do you?" he rejoined sadly. "That is because you are young. I used to think so, too, when I was young. But I don't now--experience has taught me better. What I object to in my wife is that experience doesn't teach her anything. She _won't_ learn. She persists in keeping all her youthful illusions, in the most obstinate and unjustifiable manner." Here they reached the gallery and the pictures, but the major saw two empty chairs, and, sitting down on one of them, bade his companion rest herself on the other until she had recovered from the fatigue of getting upstairs. "There is no hurry," he said wearily; "we have plenty of time." And then he looked at her with that twinkle in his eye, and said gently, "Miss King, you are very musical, I hear. Is that a fact?" "We are very, very fond of music," she said, smiling. "It is rather a hobby with us, I think." "A hobby! Ah, that's delightful. I'm so glad it is a hobby. You don't, by happy chance, play the violin, do you?" "No. We only know the piano." "You all play the piano?--old masters, and that sort of thing?" "Yes. My sister Patty plays best. Her touch and expression are beautiful."