as much amazed to find that Mrs Constable
was altogether on the other side.

'What has come over you, Cecilia?' he remarked. 'Is it possible that
you have already seen my sister-in-law? Do you understand the sort of
woman that she is?'

'I have seen her more than two hours ago, George,' replied Mrs
Constable, 'and, to be frank with you, I admire her very much. There
is no one to me like you, George, but women can see things which men
cannot. It seems to me that Miss Delacour is a woman with a great
heart, and she has taken pains to propound to me a scheme which I
consider most noble. In fact, I fully agree with her in the matter. I
cannot help doing so. Our children, our dear children, George, require
by now to be taught the great things of the world. Hitherto you and I
have taught them all we could. I do not deny that, until now, our
instruction was sufficient; but a time has arrived when they all need
the broader life. I, for one, will certainly help Miss Delacour to the
extent of five hundred pounds. The Duke is quite in favour of the
Palace of the Kings being made use of for so worthy an object, and will
give us the furniture, if not for _nothing_, at least for a very
trifling sum. Miss Delacour will herself provide the extra furniture
required for a school, and I further understand that the Duke will let
the old house and grounds for a merely nominal rent, which I think you,
George, being his kinsman through your dear wife, ought to supply.
Miss Delacour has secured the services of a most efficient
head-mistress, and the school will be run on truly noble lines--on the
very best lines, or the Duke would have nothing to do with it. As I am
willing to help Miss Delacour, she will allow my dear sons, for a
longer or shorter period, to enter the school so as to prepare for Eton
by-and-by. Home education is not enough, George, and the children will
be educated for the broader world, at our very doors. They will be
allowed to return to the home nest each Saturday until early Monday
morning. What could by any means be more advantageous?'

'Oh dear,' exclaimed Lennox, '_what_ a woman Agnes is!'

'What a noble woman! you mean.'

'I do not mean that, by any means. I mean that she is clever and very
rich, and philanders with philanthropy. We know nothing, for instance,
of the proposed head-mistress, Mrs Macintyre.'

'Yes, we do, through that really excellent woman, your sister-in-law.
George, you are s