my day," said Miss Opie, ironically, "young ladies _expected_ to be
treated with respect."

"And that could not have been so long ago; yet now they are beyond a
bashful man's comprehension," said Bertie, with an air of simplicity,
slightly scanning Miss Opie's wakeful face. He had got on so well with
the mamma, who was this old maid, who appeared so objectionably on the
alert?

"Well, I am sure," said Mrs. Leigh, "some girls here _are_ that pert and
forward, I can't bear it myself; and yet the gentlemen all encourage it,
and think it real smart. Lilla Tremaine, you know, Aunt Jane."

"Ah!" said Bertie, shaking his head, "a very unsteady young person."

While Du Meresq was making conversation, Bluebell sat incapable of
contributing to it. She would not have believed that his presence should
afford her so little pleasure; but he seemed incongruous here, and was
apparently amusing himself with the simplicity of her relatives. A
clatter of tea-things filled her mind with dismay. The ideas of the
"help" on the subject of cleanliness were in a very rudimentary stage,
and that the cloth would be in anything but its first freshness, was a
moral certainty. Impossible, however, to avert the catastrophe, and the
general servant, actuated by a determination to get another look at Miss
Bluebell's "young man," undauntedly bore in the tray.

"Dear me, is it not rather early?" said Mrs. Leigh. "Oh, Captain Du
Meresq,"--seeing him rise,--"you must stay and have a cup with us."

"Another day, if you will allow me," said Bertie, trying to disguise
his extreme lameness. "I hope, having found my way here, I may be
permitted to call again in this sociable manner, and have a little
agreeable conversation, so preferable to gaiety, which I abhor."

"If you will take us as you find us," said the little lady, graciously,
"we shall look upon it as a great favour, I am sure. Dear me, Captain Du
Meresq, have you hit your foot? You seem quite lame."

"I am, rather. I had an accident. Is there not some shorter way back than
the road I came?"

"Oh, yes, by Barker's Row. You know the Link House?"

"No--a," said Bertie, looking expressively at Bluebell, as a hint that
she might offer to point out the road.

"Oh, surely you _must_; keep straight on King Street, and then you come
to--"

"Wolfe Street?" suggested Du Meresq.

"Gracious, no! that would be quite out of your way! Go to--I'll tell you
what, Bluebell shall show you where you turn o