s as firmly set as ever; but by degrees
her brow relaxed, her footsteps became lighter and more leisurely; her
head rode gracefully and was no longer bowed. She plumed herself like a
swan after exertion.

'Yes,' she said aloud. 'To get _him_ here without letting him know that
I have any other object than that of getting a useful man--that's the
difficulty--and that I think I can master.'

She rang for the new maid, a placid woman of forty with a few grey
hairs.

'Ask Miss Graye if she can come to me.'

Cytherea was not far off, and came in.

'Do you know anything about architects and surveyors?' said Miss
Aldclyffe abruptly.

'Know anything?' replied Cytherea, poising herself on her toe to
consider the compass of the question.

'Yes--know anything,' said Miss Aldclyffe.

'Owen is an architect and surveyor's draughtsman,' the maiden said, and
thought of somebody else who was likewise.

'Yes! that's why I asked you. What are the different kinds of work
comprised in an architect's practice? They lay out estates, and
superintend the various works done upon them, I should think, among
other things?'

'Those are, more properly, a land or building steward's duties--at least
I have always imagined so. Country architects include those things in
their practice; city architects don't.'

'I know that, child. But a steward's is an indefinite fast and loose
profession, it seems to me. Shouldn't you think that a man who had been
brought up as an architect would do for a steward?'

Cytherea had doubts whether an architect pure would do.

The chief pleasure connected with asking an opinion lies in not adopting
it. Miss Aldclyffe replied decisively--

'Nonsense; of course he would. Your brother Owen makes plans for country
buildings--such as cottages, stables, homesteads, and so on?'

'Yes; he does.'

'And superintends the building of them?'

'Yes; he will soon.'

'And he surveys land?'

'O yes.'

'And he knows about hedges and ditches--how wide they ought to be,
boundaries, levelling, planting trees to keep away the winds, measuring
timber, houses for ninety-nine years, and such things?'

'I have never heard him say that; but I think Mr. Gradfield does those
things. Owen, I am afraid, is inexperienced as yet.'

'Yes; your brother is not old enough for such a post yet, of course.
And then there are rent-days, the audit and winding up of tradesmen's
accounts. I am afraid, Cytherea, you don't know much more ab