t like a
weight at Dunstone." Then opening a miniature-case, "Who is this--
Mrs. Poynsett when she was young?"

"Most likely," said Rosamond. "It is like her now, and very like
Charlie."

"Yes. Charles is quite unlike the family."

"What family?" said Rosamond.

"The Charnocks, of course. Raymond is a perfect Charnock!"

"A vast advantage," murmured Rosamond.

"Of course," said Cecil, taking it quite seriously. "No one else
could be the same thing to us. Papa said there was not a match in
the whole world that could have gratified him so much."

"How old are you, Cecil?" quoth Rosamond, with a ripple in her
voice.

"Oh, his age was no matter. I don't like young men. That's not the
drawback; no, it is that horrid Poynsett at the end of the name."

"You see you had better have waived your objections to youth, and
taken a younger son."

"I couldn't," said this naive young person. "Besides, there is much
more of a field for me here than at Dunstone since papa's marriage."

Whatever Rosamond had on the tip of her tongue was averted by the
entrance of the three younger brothers. Julius seated himself
beside her in the cushioned fireside corner; and Cecil asked where
Raymond was.

"Just stepped in to see my mother," said Frank. "This room opens
into hers. Will you come to them?"

"Not yet," said Cecil. "I want you to tell me about the
neighbourhood."

"Just what I want," said Rosamond. "Whenever I ask, Julius always
says there's Dr. Easterby."

Frank and Charlie burst out laughing.

"Dr. Easterby is one of the greatest men in the English Church,"
said Julius.

"Precisely! But what is the regiment at Backsworth?" and as Charlie
named it, "Oh, what fun! That's where Laurie Cookson exchanged. He
will be sure to send us cards for everything."

"At Dunstone we never used to go to garrison gaieties," said Cecil,
gravely.

"Oh! I'm a military pariah," said Rosamond, hastily.

"Who are the land-owners?" continued Cecil. "There was a place I
saw from the line, but Raymond didn't hear when I asked whose it
was. Close to the station, I mean."

"That is Sirenwood," said Charles. "Sir Harry Vivian's. He is just
come back there with his two daughters."

"I thought Emily Vivian was dead," said Julius. "You don't mean
_that_ women!"

"_That_ woman?" laughed his wife. "What has she done to be a _that_
woman?"

"Offended his Reverence," said Frank, in that sort of jocose tone
which betr