of teacher and pupil! Small blame
to you if you were put out, and now I hope your mamma will keep him to
herself, and that I shall have time to get cool. There! read me some
French, it is a refreshing process--or practise a little. I declare that
boy has dragged me in and out so often, that I haven't energy to tell a
noun from a verb.'

Mrs. Prendergast had hardly descended to the drawing-room before her
husband's voice called her to the study, where he stood, his broad mouth
distended by a broader smile, his eyes twinkling with merriment.

'Old woman' (his favourite name for her), 'do you know what a spectacle I
have been witnessing?' and as she signed inquiry, 'Mrs. Sprydone, with
numerous waggings of the head, and winkings of the eyes, inveigled me
into her den, to see--guess.'

'Francis and Miss Sandbrook in the cloister photographing.'

'Old woman, you are a witch.'

'I knew what they were about, as well as Mrs. Sprydone's agony to open my
eyes.'

'So your obstinate blindness drove her to me! She thought it right that
I should be aware The Close, it seems, is in a fever about that poor
girl. What do you know? Is it all gossip?'

'I know there is gossip, as a law of nature, but I have not chosen to
hear it.'

'Then you think it all nonsense?'

'Not _all_.'

'Well, what then? The good ladies seem terribly scandalized by her
dress. Is there any harm in that? I always thought it very becoming.'

'Exactly so,' said his wife, smiling.

'If it is too smart, can't you give her a hint?'

'When she left off her mourning, she spoke to me, saying that she could
not afford not to wear out what she already had. I quite agreed; and
though I could wish there were less stylishness about her, it is pleasant
to one's own eye, and I see nothing to object to.'

'I'm sure it is no concern of the ladies, then! And how about this lad?
One of their wild notions, is not it? I have heard her tell him
half-a-dozen times that she was six years his elder.'

'Four-and-twenty is just the age that young-looking girls like to boast
of. I am not afraid on her account; she has plenty of sense and
principle, and I believe, too, there is a very sore spot in her heart,
poor girl. She plays with him as a mere boy; but he is just at the time
of life for a passion for a woman older than himself, and his devotion
certainly excites her more than I could wish.'

'I'll tell you what, Peter didn't like it at all.'

'Peter wa