“As we ladies happen to have our boots on,” said Marian, “we shall stay as long as we like.”

Nevertheless, they soon turned homeward, and as the path was narrow, they walked in pairs.  The clergyman, with Constance, led the way.  Lord Jasper followed with Elinor.  Conolly and Marian came last.

“Does that young man—­Mr. Conolly—­live at the Hall?” was the Rev. George’s first remark to Constance.

“No.  He has rooms in Rose Cottage, that little place on Quilter’s farm.”

“Ha!  Then he is very well off here.”

“A great deal too well off.  Jasper allows him to speak to him as though he were an equal.  However, I suppose Jasper knows his own business best.”

“I have observed that he is rather disposed to presume upon any encouragement he receives.  It is a bad sign in a young man, and one, I fear, that will greatly interfere with his prospects.”

“He is an American, and I suppose thinks it a fine thing to be republican.  But it is Jasper’s fault.  He spoils him.  He once wanted to have him in the drawing-room in the evenings to play accompaniments; but mamma positively refused to allow it.  Jasper is excessively obstinate, and though he did not make a fuss, he got quite a habit of going over to Rose Cottage and spending his evenings there singing and playing.  Everybody about the place used to notice it.  Mamma was greatly disgusted.”

“Do you find him unpleasant—­personally, I mean?”

“I!  Oh dear, no!  I should never dream of speaking to him.  His presence is unpleasant, because he exercises a bad influence on Jasper; so I wish, on that account alone, that he would go.”

“I trust Marian is careful to limit her intercourse with him as much as possible.”

“Well, Marian learns electricity from him; and of course that makes a difference.  I do not care about such things; and I never go into the laboratory when he is there; so I do not know whether Marian lets him be familiar with her or not.  She is rather easygoing; and he is insufferably conceited.  However, if she wants to learn electricity, I suppose she must put up with him.  He is no worse, after all, than the rest of the people one has to learn things from.  They are all impossible.”

“It is a strange fancy of the girls, to study science.”

“I am sure I dont know why they do it.  It is great nonsense for Jasper to do it, either.  He will never keep up his position properly until he shuts up that stupid workshop.  He ought to hunt and shoot and entertain a great deal more than he does.  It is very hard on us, for we are altogether in Jasper’s hands for such matters.  I think he is very foolish.”

“Not foolish.  Dont say that.  Excuse my giving you a little lecture; but it is not right to speak, even without thought, of your brother as a fool.  No doubt he is a little injudicious; but all men are not called to the same pursuits.”

“If people have a certain position, they ought to make up their minds to the duties of their position, whether they are called to them or not.”