folks, who don't care for him now--now he is no longer a fine
folk himself," adds the girl, smiling. "Why have you not set up for the
fashion, and frequented the chocolate-houses and the racecourses, Mr.
Warrington?"

"Has my brother got so much good out of his gay haunts or his grand
friends, that I should imitate him?"

"You might at least go to Sir Miles Warrington; sure his arms are open
to receive you. Her ladyship was here this morning in her chair, and
to hear her praises of you! She declares you are in a certain way to
preferment. She says his Royal Highness the Duke made much of you at
court. When you are a great man will you forget us, Mr. Warrington?"

"Yes, when I am a great man I will, Miss Lambert."

"Well! Mr. George, then----"

"--Mr. George!"

"When papa and mamma are here, I suppose there need be no mistering,"
says Theo, looking out of the window, ever so little frightened. "And
what have you been doing, sir? Reading books, or writing more of your
tragedy? Is it going to be a tragedy to make us cry, as we like them, or
only to frighten us, as you like them?"

"There is plenty of killing, but, I fear, not much crying. I have not
met many women. I have not been very intimate with those. I daresay what
I have written is only taken out of books or parodied from poems which
I have read and imitated like other young men. Women do not speak to me,
generally; I am said to have a sarcastic way which displeases them."

"Perhaps you never cared to please them?" inquires Miss Theo, with a
blush.

"I displeased you last night; you know I did?"

"Yes; only it can't be called displeasure, and afterwards thought I was
wrong."

"Did you think about me at all when I was away, Theo?"

"Yes, George--that is, Mr.--well, George! I thought you and papa were
right about the play; and, as you said, that it was no real sorrow, only
affectation, which was moving us. I wonder whether it is good or ill
fortune to see so clearly? Hetty and I agreed that we would be very
careful, for the future, how we allowed ourselves to enjoy a tragedy.
So, be careful when yours comes! What is the name of it?"

"He is not christened. Will you be the godmother? The name of the chief
character is----" But at this very moment mamma and Miss Hetty arrived
from their walk; and mamma straightway began protesting that she never
expected to see Mr. Warrington at all that day--that is, she thought he
might come--that is, it was very good