imcracks, for all its big windows. I can't think how you like to
stuff it up with all this rubbish,' persisted Sarah.

'This rubbish, as you call it, is worth a pretty penny,' he remarked,
lighting a cigarette.

'You're as bad as father, counting everything by what it costs. But, I
say, George, why did you go and suggest my inviting Horatia Cunningham to
come and stay here? I don't want her; and now you've started mother on it
she'll give me no peace till I do ask her, and very likely say something
to father, and he'll begin worrying about it, especially if he hears
she's a duke's granddaughter. Besides, she wouldn't come if I did ask
her,' Sarah remarked.

'In that case there'll be no harm done if you do ask her. But I can't
imagine why you shouldn't; she looks a very nice girl, and you are great
friends, aren't you? And what has her grandfather to do with it?' asked
George.

'At school we are; but whether we should be after she'd been up here
isn't so certain. And as for why I shouldn't ask her, the reason is
pretty plain--father,' replied Sarah.

'You mean he might make himself unpleasant?' suggested George.

'There's no need for him to _make_ himself; Nature has made him
unpleasant,' exclaimed Sarah.

'You need not see much of him. You can go for picnics or drives, and
arrange to have lunch earlier or later; and you never breakfast and have
tea with him, so it's only at dinner-time that they will meet. I should
not think he will get into a rage before a stranger, especially a young
girl.'

Sarah seemed to be considering something, and suddenly she blurted out,
'It isn't only that. I don't want her to come here; can't you see why
not? They don't know what my people are. Oh, they know we're
manufacturers; but that's nothing to be ashamed of. Lots of manufacturers
are gentlemen, but we are not gentlefolks, and they--they don't guess it
from me,' she wound up half-shamefacedly.

'Then I wouldn't sail under false colours. We are risen from the people,
and our parents have not had the education they have been good enough to
give us; but it would be contemptible to be ashamed of the fact or of
them.'

'That's very fine and high-flown; but I am ashamed of my father, at any
rate. I'd rather not have Horatia Cunningham come here and laugh at my
mother behind her back,' said Sarah.

'I should like to see any one dare to do that,' said George, with an
angrier look than his sister had ever seen him give.

'She wo