'Do you think, Milly, he is going to speak about the timber, you know, that Cousin Knollys spoke of? I do hope not.' 'So do I,' said Milly. 'I wish he'd stayed a bit longer with us first, for if he does, father will sure to turn him out of doors, and we'll see no more of him.' 'Exactly, my dear Milly; and he's so pleasant and good-natured.' 'And he likes you awful well, he does.' 'I'm sure he likes us both equally, Milly; he talked a great deal to you at Elverston, and used to ask you so often to sing those two pretty Lancashire ballads,' I said; 'but you know when you were at your controversies and religious exercises in the window, with that pillar of the church, the Rev. Spriggs Biddlepen--' 'Get awa' wi' your nonsense, Maud; how could I help answering when he dodged me up and down my Testament and catechism?--an I 'most hate him, I tell you, and Cousin Knollys, you're such fools, I do. And whatever you say, the lord likes you uncommon, and well you know it, ye hussy.' 'I know no such thing; and you don't think it, _you_ hussy, and I really don't care who likes me or who doesn't, except my relations; and I make the lord a present to you, if you'll have him.' In this strain were we talking when he re-entered the room, a little sooner than we had expected to see him. Milly, who, you are to recollect, was only in process of reformation, and still retained something of the Derbyshire dairymaid, gave me a little clandestine pinch on the arm just as he made his appearance. 'I just refused a present from her,' said odious Milly, in answer to his enquiring look, 'because I knew she could not spare it.' The effect of all this was that I blushed one of my overpowering blushes. People told me they became me very much; I hope so, for the misfortune was frequent; and I think nature owed me that compensation. 'It places you both in a most becoming light,' said Lord Ilbury, quite innocently. 'I really don't know which most to admire--the generosity of the offer or of the refusal.' 'Well, it _was_ kind, if you but knew. I'm 'most tempted to tell him,' said Milly. I checked her with a really angry look, and said, 'Perhaps you have not observed it; but I really think, for a sensible person, my cousin Milly here talks more nonsense than any twenty other girls.' 'A twenty-girl power! That's an immense compliment. I've the greatest respect for nonsense, I owe it so much; and I really think if nonsense were banished, the earth would grow insupportable.' 'Thank you, Lord Ilbury,' said Milly, who had grown quite easy in his company during our long visit at Elverston; 'and I tell you, Miss Maud, if you grow saucy, I'll accept your present, and what will you say then?' 'I really don't know; but just now I want to ask Lord Ilbury how he thinks my uncle looks; neither I nor Milly have seen him since his illness.'