steps, and very unpleasant he found it--though not without the best
consequences, and among them the present--' And he turned to Lady
Conway with a pretty mixture of gracefulness and affection, enough to
win the heart of any aunt.

Mrs. Mansell presently fell into raptures at the sight of the drawing
materials, which must, she was sure, delight Isabel, but she was rather
discomfited by the sight of the 'subject,'--called it an odious
creature, then good-humouredly laughed at herself, but would not sit
down again, evidently wishing to escape from close quarters with such
monsters. Lady Conway likewise rose, and looked into the basin,
exclaiming, in her turn, 'Ah! I see you understand these things! Yes,
they are very interesting! Virginia will be delighted; she has been
begging me for an aquarium wherever we go. You must tell her how to
manage it. Look, Isabel, would not she be in ecstasies?'

Miss Conway looked, but did not seem to partake in the admiration. 'I
am perverse enough never to like what is the fashion,' she said.

'I tried to disgust Fitzjocelyn with his pets on that very ground,'
said James; 'but their charms were too strong for him.'

'Fashion is the very testimony to them,' said Louis. 'I think I could
convince you.'

He would perhaps have produced his lovely serpula blossoms, but he was
forced to pass on to his aunt and Mrs. Mansell, who had found something
safer for their admiration, in the shape of a great Cornu ammonis in
the garden.

'He can throw himself into any pursuit,' said James, as he paused at
the door with Miss Conway; but suddenly becoming aware of the slimy
entanglement round his hat, he exclaimed, 'Absurd fellow!' and pulled
it off rather petulantly, adding, with a little constraint, 'Recovery
does put people into mad spirits! I fancy the honest folks here look
on in amaze.'

Miss Conway gave a very pretty smile of sympathy and consolation, that
shone like a sunbeam on her beautiful pensive features and dark, soft
eyes. Then she began to admire the view, as they stood on the turf,
beside Captain Hannaford's two small cannon, overlooking the water
towards Bickleypool, with a purple hill rising behind it. A yacht was
sailing into the harbour, and James ran indoors to fetch a spy-glass,
while Lady Conway seized the occasion of asking her nephew his tutor's
name.

Louis, who had fancied she must necessarily understand all his kindred,
was glad to guard against shocks to Jem