Oliver looked on and listened with open-eyed wonder. He had not objected altogether to his sister’s being won over to cordiality towards the Stanhopes as his former associates. He had noticed with ready approval how she had set herself to entertain Horace—as most in need of entertainment, taking pains to raise and modulate her clear voice to suit his deafness, and striving to find subjects which he might care to discuss. It was the innate gentlewoman showing itself in Fan as in all true women of whatever rank, which caused her, in the office of hostess, to select the guest who was least attractive and most apt to be neglected, and to lavish on him her chief cares. Oliver had admired the delicate consideration which lay at the foundation of a lady’s duty in this respect. He had also appreciated the tact which had helped Fan to discover soon that her little attentions only bored Horace, since he preferred to be let alone. The perception caused Fan to turn and join in Oliver’s conversation with Harry. Then her brother was amazed and certainly not edified to find that Fan, in spite of her declared opinions, was warmly applauding and even, as it seemed to Oliver, proposing to back Harry Stanhope in his enterprise. ‘Oliver will be so glad to have you and your brother for neighbours;’ she put the sentiment quite gratuitously into Oliver’s mouth in his presence; ‘and if he or I—sometimes a woman’s ideas are of some value where housekeeping is concerned—can be of the least service to you, we shall be very much pleased.’ Oliver could not believe his ears. It was not that there was the least suspicion of forwardness or indecorum in Fan’s spontaneous friendliness. The girl was perfectly incapable of such breaches of good taste. But it was evident to anyone who knew her, that Fan was interested and excited—to the extent of being carried out of herself, in sheer sympathy with an adventure, which any reasonable man or woman might have held as certain to provoke her contempt. Sally Pope, coming in herself to remove the tea-tray, in the accidental absence of another servant, could not refrain from casting a questioning glance at Oliver. That appeal of Sally’s eyes said, ‘Do you see Miss Fan? She is coming out of her shell for once in her life. What makes her, that is so ill to please, so rarely taken with what the talkative young gentleman is saying?’