tacked that ferocious beast in the form of
quiet, courteous Mr Lennox with her usual energy.

'George,' she said, 'you are angry with your poor sister.'

'Oh, not at all,' he replied. 'Pray take a seat. This chair I can
recommend as most comfortable.'

Miss Agnes accepted the chair, but pursued her own course of reasoning.

'You 're angry,' she continued, 'because I did not go to poor Lucy's
funeral.'

'We will let that matter drop,' said Lennox, his very refined face
turning slightly pale.

'But, my dear brother, we must _not_ let it drop. It is my duty to
protest, and to defend myself. There was a woman with cataract.'

'Dear Agnes, I know that story so well. I am glad the woman recovered
her sight.'

'Then you are a good Christian man, George, and we are friends once
again.'

'We were never anything else,' said Lennox.

'That being the case,' continued Miss Delacour, 'you will of course
listen to the object of my mission here.'

'I will listen, Agnes; but I do not say that I shall either comprehend
or take an interest in your so-called _mission_.'

'Ah, narrow, narrow man,' said Miss Delacour, shaking her plump finger
playfully at her host as she spoke.

'Am I narrow? I did not know it,' replied Lennox.

'Fearfully so. Think of the way you are bringing up your girls.'

'What is the matter with my lasses? I think them the bonniest and the
best in the world.'

'Poor misguided man! They are nothing of the sort.'

'If you have come here, Agnes, to abuse Lucy's children, _and_ mine, I
would rather we dropped the subject. They have nothing to do with you.
You have never until the present moment taken the slightest notice of
them. They give _me_ intense happiness. I think, perhaps, Agnes,
seeing that we differ and have always differed in every particular, it
might be as well for you to shorten your visit to The Garden.'

'Thank you. That is the sort of speech a child reared by you has
already made to me. She has, in fact, impertinent little thing,
already asked me when I am going.'

'Do you allude to Hollyhock?'

'Now, George, is it wise--is it sensible to call those children after
the flowers of the garden and the field? I assure you your manner of
bringing up your family makes me _sick_--yes, sick!'

'Oh, don't trouble about us,' said Lennox. 'We get on uncommonly well.
They are _my_ children, you know.'

'And Lucy's,' whispered Miss Delacour, her voice slightly shaking.

'I a