ger daughters. They were extremely unlike in
person. Gatty was tall, calm, and deliberate; Molly was rather
diminutive for her years, and exceedingly lively. While Gatty came
forward in a stately, courteous manner, courtesying to Madam, and kindly
answering her inquiries after Betty, Molly linked her arm in Rhoda's,
with--

"How goes it, old jade?"

And when Mr Onslow, who happened to be crossing the hall, stopped and
inquired in a rather timid manner if Mrs Betty's health were improving,
Molly at once favoured him with a slap on the back, and the counter
query,--

"What's that to you, you old thief?" Phoebe was horrified. If these
were aristocratic manners, she preferred those of inferior quality. But
noticing that Gatty's manners were quiet and correct, Phoebe concluded
that Molly must be an exceptional eccentricity. She contemplated the
prospect of a month in that young lady's company with unmitigated
repugnance.

"Well, Mrs Molly, my dear,--as smart as ever!" remarked Madam, turning
to Molly with a smile. "All right, old witch!" said Molly. And to
Phoebe's astonishment, Madam smiled on, and did not resent the
impertinence.

"Well!--how do you like Gatty and Molly?" said Rhoda to Phoebe, when
they were safe in their own room.

"Pretty well, Mrs Gatty," replied Phoebe, leaving the question of Molly
undecided.

"Don't you like Molly?" demanded Rhoda, laughing. "Ah! I see. She's
rather too clever to please you."

"I ask your pardon, but I don't see any cleverness in downright
rudeness," timidly suggested Phoebe.

"Oh, nobody cares what Molly says," answered Rhoda. "They put up with
all that,--she's so smart. You see, she's very, very ingenious, and
everybody thinks so, and she knows people think so. She's a rep., you
see, and she has to keep it up."

"I ask your pardon," said Phoebe again; "a _what_, if you please?"

"A rep., child," answered Rhoda, in her patronising style. "A
reputation,--a character for smartness, you know. Don't you see?"

"Well, I would rather have a character for something better," said
Phoebe.

"You may make yourself easy; you'll never get a character for
smartness," responded her cousin with an unpleasant laugh. "Well, I
say, Phoebe, while they are here I shall have Molly in my room, and you
must sleep with Gatty. You can come in and dress me of a morning, you
know, and help me into bed at night; but we can't do with three in one
room."

Phoebe was inwardl