eep much, if I were in the most luxurious bed in the world.
They say a man who is going to be hanged sleeps like a top, but I don't
think I shall; what do you say, Nell?"

"Elinor, I should think, could have no opinion on the subject," said
Mrs. Dennistoun, pale with anger. "You will all dine here, of course.
Some other friends are coming, and a cousin, Mr. Tatham, of Tatham's
Cross."

"Is that," said Phil, "the Cousin John?"

"John, I am sorry to say, is abroad; the long vacation is the worst
time. It is his father who is coming, and his sister, Mary Tatham, who
is Elinor's bridesmaid--she and Miss Hudson at the Rectory."

"Only two; and very sensible, instead of the train one sees, all
thinking how best to show themselves off. Dick Bolsover is man enough to
tackle them both. He expects some fun, I can tell you. What is there to
be after we are gone, Nell?" He stopped and looked round with a laugh.
"Rather close quarters for a ball," he said.

"There will be no ball. You forget that when you take Elinor away I
shall be alone. A solitary woman living in a cottage, as you remark,
does not give balls. I am much afraid that there will be very little fun
for your friend."

"Oh, he'll amuse himself well enough; he's the sort of fellow who always
makes himself at home. A Rectory will be great fun for him; I don't
suppose he was ever in one before, unless perhaps when he was a boy at
school. Yes, as you say--what a lot of trouble it will be for you to
be sure: not as if Nell had a sister to enjoy the fun after. It's a
thousand pities you did not decide to bring her up to town, and get
us shuffled off there. You might have got a little house for next
to nothing at this time of the year, and saved all the row, turning
everything upside down in this nice little place, and troubling yourself
with visitors and so forth. But one always thinks of that sort of thing
too late."

"I should not have adopted such an expedient in any case. Elinor must be
married among her own people, wherever her lot may be cast afterwards.
Everybody here has known her ever since she was born."

"Ah, that's a thing ladies think of, I suppose," said Compton. He had
stuck his glass into his eye and was gazing out of the window. "Very
jolly view," he continued. "And what's that, Nell, raising clouds of
dust? I haven't such quick eyes as you."

"I should think it must be a circus or a menagerie, or something,
mamma."

"Very likely," said Mrs. Denn