ouse, and solemn assurance that he had
been most hospitably received, and that his own observation and inquiry
had convinced him that Mr. Alison was a highly estimable young man, in
spite of all disadvantages, unassuming, well-mannered, and grateful for
good advice. Dermot had shown his discernment in making him his
friend, and Lucy had, in truth, acted with much courage, as well as
good judgment, in remaining with him; "and that so horrified mamma,"
said Viola, "that she turned me out of the room, so I don't know how
they fought it out; but mamma must have given in at last, though she
has never said one word to me about it, not even that you were all to
be here. What a good thing it is to have a brother! I should never
have known but for Dermot. And, do you know, he says that my uncle's
pet is the cousin, after all--the deferential fool of a cousin, he
says."

"Hush, hush, Viola!"

"I didn't say so--it was Dermot!" said the naughty child, with a little
arch pout; "he says it is just like my uncle to be taken with a little
worship from--well, he is your nephew, Lucy, so I will be politer than
Dermot, who does rage because he says Mr. Alison has not even sense to
see that he is dressed in his cousin's plumes."

"He is very fond of Harold, Viola, and they both of them do it in
simplicity; Harold does the things for Eustace, and never even sees
that the credit is taken from him. It is what he does it for."

"Then he is a regular stupid old jolly giant," said Viola. "Oh, Lucy,
what delicious thing _is_ this?"

It was the little flower-pot, in which I had planted a spray of
lemon-scented verbena, which Viola had long coveted. I explained how
Harold had presided over it as an offering from the Hydriot Company to
its youngest shareholder, and her delight was extreme. She said she
would keep it for ever in her own room; it was just what she wanted,
the prettiest thing she had had--so kind of him; but those great, grand
giants never thought anything too little for them. And then she went
into one of her despairs. She had prepared a number of Christmas
presents for the people about the castle to whom she had always been
like the child of the house, and her maid had forgotten to bring the
box she had packed, nor was there any means of getting them, unless she
could persuade her brother to send early the next morning.

"Is Dermot staying here?"

"Oh yes--all night; and nobody else, except ourselves and Piggy. Poor