affection for me, and would occasionally favour me with long and
technical dissertations on the interior economy of the flea, for
example; and once in the fullness of his heart confided to his wife
that "Miss Coventry was really a _dear_ girl; it's my belief, Madge,
that if she'd been a man she'd have been a naturalist." These little
dinners were indeed vastly agreeable. Nobody had such a comfortable
house or such a good cook or so many pretty things as Mrs. Lumley. Her
"old man" seemed to enjoy the relaxation of ladies' society after his
morning labours and researches. With me he was good-humoured and full
of fun; at his wife's jokes and stories, most of them somewhat
scandalous, he would laugh till he cried.

"I'm responsible for you, Miss Coventry," he would say with a sly
laugh. "You're not fit to be trusted with Madge; upon my life, I
believe she is the wildest of the two. If you won't have the carriage,
I must walk back with you myself.--How far is it, Madge? Do you think
I can _stay the distance_, as you sporting people term it in your
inexplicable jargon?"

"Why, you know you can't get a hundred yards, you foolish old man,"
laughed his wife. "A nice chaperon you'd make for Kate. Why, she'd
have to carry you, and you know you'd tumble off even then. No, no;
you and I will stay comfortably here by the fire, and I'll give you
your tea and put you tidily to bed. I shan't be home any other night
this week. Kate has a convoy coming for her;--haven't you, Kate?--_Le
beau cousin_ will take the best possible care of us; and even prim
Aunt Deborah won't object to our walking back with _him_. I believe he
came up from Wales on purpose. What would somebody else give to take
the charge off his hands?--You needn't blush, Kate; I can see through
a millstone as far as my neighbours. I'm not quite such a fool as I
look;--am I, 'old man'?--There's the doorbell.--John, ask Mr. Jones if
he won't step up and have some tea." We were sitting by a blazing fire
in the boudoir, a snug and beautiful little room, to which no one was
admitted but the lady's especial favourites; even the "old man" never
entered it during the day.

"Mr. Jones's compliments, and he hopes you'll excuse him, ma'am," was
the footman's answer on his return; "but it's very late, and he
promised to bring Miss Coventry back by eleven."

"Well, I'm sure," said Mrs. Lumley, "if I was you, Kate, I shouldn't
stand his anticipating his authority in this way. Never min