servation that intimacy
would a good deal depend upon circumstances. Blanche cried out that it
was a perfect romance, and May gravely said, 'But is she a lady?'

'A perfect lady,' said Mark. 'Aunt Margaret says so.'

'One knows what a perfect lady means,' returned May.

'Come, May,' said Mrs. Egremont, 'do not let us begin with a prejudice.
By all accounts the poor thing has conducted herself with perfect
respectability all this time. What did you tell me, Mark? She has been
living with an aunt, keeping a school at Micklethwayte.'

'Not quite,' said Mark. 'She has been acting as a daily governess. She
seemed to be on friendly terms with the clerical folk. I came across
the name at a school feast, or something of the kind, which came off in
the Kirkaldys' park.'

'Oh, then, I know exactly the sort of person!' returned May, pursing up
her lips.

Mark laughed and said, 'I wonder whether it is too soon to go up and
see them. I wonder what my uncle thinks of his daughter.'

'What! You don't mean to say there is a daughter?' cried May.

'Even so. And exactly like you too, Miss May.'

'Then you are cut out, Mark!'

'You are cut out, I think, May. You'll have to give her all your Miss
Egremont cards.'

'No,' said the young lady; 'mother made me have my Christian name
printed. She said all but the daughters of the head of the family
ought to have it so. I'm glad of it.'

'How old is she?' asked Blanche.

'About a year younger than you.'

'I think it is very interesting,' said Blanche. 'How wonderful it must
all be to her! I will go up with you, Mark, as soon as I can get
ready.'

'You had better wait till later in the day, Blanche,' said the mother.
She knew the meeting was inevitable, but she preferred having it under
her own eye, if she could not reconnoitre.

She was a just and sensible woman, who felt reparation due to the
newly-discovered sister-in-law, and that harmony, or at least the
appearance of it, must be preserved; but she was also exclusive and
fastidious by nature, and did not look forward to the needful
intercourse with much satisfaction either on her own account or that of
her family.

She told Mark to say that she should come to see Mrs. Egremont after
luncheon, since he was determined to go at once, and moreover to drag
his father with him. Canon Egremont was a good and upright man,
according to his lights, which were rather those of a well-beneficed
clergyman of the first