me is Figgins; however, blood is blood as
much through the female line as the male, indeed, perhaps even more so if
the truth were known. I wonder who Mr Figgins was. I think Mrs Skinner
said he was dead, however, I must find out all about him. It would be
delightful if young Figgins were to ask Ernest home for the holidays. Who
knows but he might meet Lord Lonsford himself, or at any rate some of
Lord Lonsford's other descendants?"

Meanwhile the boy himself was still sitting moodily before the fire in
Mrs Jay's room. "Papa and Mamma," he was saying to himself, "are much
better and cleverer than anyone else, but, I, alas! shall never be either
good or clever."

Mrs Pontifex continued--

"Perhaps it would be best to get young Figgins on a visit to ourselves
first. That would be charming. Theobald would not like it, for he does
not like children; I must see how I can manage it, for it would be so
nice to have young Figgins--or stay! Ernest shall go and stay with
Figgins and meet the future Lord Lonsford, who I should think must be
about Ernest's age, and then if he and Ernest were to become friends
Ernest might ask him to Battersby, and he might fall in love with
Charlotte. I think we have done _most wisely_ in sending Ernest to Dr
Skinner's. Dr Skinner's piety is no less remarkable than his genius. One
can tell these things at a glance, and he must have felt it about me no
less strongly than I about him. I think he seemed much struck with
Theobald and myself--indeed, Theobald's intellectual power must impress
any one, and I was showing, I do believe, to my best advantage. When I
smiled at him and said I left my boy in his hands with the most entire
confidence that he would be as well cared for as if he were at my own
house, I am sure he was greatly pleased. I should not think many of the
mothers who bring him boys can impress him so favourably, or say such
nice things to him as I did. My smile is sweet when I desire to make it
so. I never was perhaps exactly pretty, but I was always admitted to be
fascinating. Dr Skinner is a very handsome man--too good on the whole I
should say for Mrs Skinner. Theobald says he is not handsome, but men
are no judges, and he has such a pleasant bright face. I think my bonnet
became me. As soon as I get home I will tell Chambers to trim my blue
and yellow merino with--" etc., etc.

All this time the letter which has been given above was lying in
Christina's privat