promise to pay me a visit,
you must indeed. Is not she beautiful?" she added in a lower but still
distinct voice to her friend. "Do you know I think there is so much
beauty among the lower order."

Mr Mountchesney and Lord Milford poured forth several insipid
compliments, accompanied with some speaking looks which they flattered
themselves could not be misconstrued. Sybil said not a word, but
answered each flood of phrases with a cold reverence.

Undeterred by her somewhat haughty demeanour, which Lady Maud only
attributed to the novelty of her situation, her ignorance of the
world, and her embarrassment under this overpowering condescension,
the good-tempered and fussy daughter of Lord de Mowbray proceeded to
re-assure Sybil, and to enforce on her that this perhaps unprecedented
descent from superiority was not a mere transient courtliness of the
moment, and that she really might rely on her patronage and favourable
feeling.

"You really must come and see me," said Lady Maud, "I shall never be
happy till you have made me a visit. Where do you live? I will come and
fetch you myself in the carriage. Now let us fix a day at once. Let me
see; this is Saturday. What say you to next Monday?"

"I thank you," said Sybil, very gravely, "but I never quit my home."

"What a darling!" exclaimed Lady Maud looking round at her friends. "Is
not she? I know exactly what you feel. But really you shall not be the
least embarrassed. It may feel strange at first, to be sure, but then I
shall be there; and do you know I look upon you quite as my protege."

"Protege," said Sybil. "I live with my father."

"What a dear!" said Lady Maud looking round to Lord Milford. "Is not she
naive?"

"And are you the guardian of these beautiful flowers?" said Mr
Mountchesney.

Sybil signified a negative, and added "Mrs Trafford is very proud of
them."

"You must see the flowers at Mowbray Castle," said Lady Maud. "They are
unprecedented, are they not, Lord Milford? You know you said the other
day that they were almost equal to Mrs Lawrence's. I am charmed to find
you are fond of flowers," continued Lady Maud; "you will be so delighted
with Mowbray. Ah! mama is calling us. Now fix--shall it be Monday?"

"Indeed," said Sybil, "I never leave my home. I am one of the lower
order, and live only among the lower order. I am here to-day merely for
a few hours to pay an act of homage to a benefactor."

"Well I shall come and fetch you," said Maud, c