y is very well, thank you; I left her staying with my cousins, the
Delavals. It is very hard to get her away from home, and she threatens
not to stay a day after my return.' He spoke in a hasty confused way,
as if trying to spin everything out of the answer, so as to remain
conversing with Theodora as long as possible.

'How long shall you be in town?' she asked, trying to find something she
could say without awkwardness.

'I can hardly tell. I have a good deal to do. Pray'--turning to Lord
Martindale--'can you tell me which is the best shop to go to for
agricultural implements?'

Speed the plough! Farming is a happy sedative for English noblemen of
the nineteenth century, thought Theodora, as she heard them discussing
subsoil and rocks, and thought of the poet turned high farmer,
and forgetting even love and embarrassment! However, she had the
satisfaction of hearing, 'No, we cannot carry it out thoroughly there
without blowing up the rocks, and I cannot have the responsibility of
defacing nature.'

'Then you cannot be a thorough-going farmer.'

'I cannot afford it, and would not if I could. It is only for the sake
of showing the tenants that I am not devoid of the spirit of the age.'

Country gentlemen being happier in agricultural implement shops than
anywhere else, Lord Martindale offered to accompany his friend and give
his counsel. He would go up-stairs to see how Arthur was, and carry the
parcel to Violet.

'Pray tell Mrs. Martindale that her mother and sisters sent all manner
of kind messages. Very pleasing people they are,' said Lord St. Erme;
'and Mrs. Moss was so very kind to my poor little sister that we hardly
know how to be sufficiently grateful.'

'I never saw any of the family but the brother,' said Theodora.

'And he is not the best specimen,' said Lord St. Erme. 'Some of the
young ladies are remarkably nice people, very sensible, and Lucy is
continually discovering some kindness of theirs among the poor people.
Ah! that reminds me, perhaps you could tell me whether you know
anything of a school in your neighbourhood, from which a master has been
recommended to me--St. Mary's, Whiteford.'

'I don't know much of it; I believe the clergyman takes pains about it.'

'Do you think they would have a superior man there! Our funds are low,
and we must not look for great attainments at present. It is easy to
cram a man if he is intelligent; I only want a person who can keep up
what is taught, and ma