“Thank you!”

The ladies parted, liking one another, if possible, less than before.

Mrs. Poynsett’s instinct of defence had made her profess much less distaste to the marriage than she really felt; she was much concerned that another son should be undergoing Raymond’s sad experiences, but she had no fear that Lady Tyrrell would ever allow it to come to a marriage, and she did not think Frank’s poetical enthusiasm and admiration for beauty betokened a nature that would suffer such an enduring wound as Raymond’s had done.

So she awaited his return, without too much uneasiness for amusement in Rosamond’s preparations.  One opening into the conservatory was through her room, so that every skilful device, or gay ornament, could be exhibited to her; and she much enjoyed the mirth that went on between the queen of the revels and her fellow-workers.

Cecil did not interfere, being indeed generally with her friends at Sirenwood, Aucuba Villa, or the working-room, in all of which she had the pleasure of being treated as a person of great consideration, far superior to all her natural surroundings, and on whom hinged all the plans for the amelioration of Willansborough.

Sometimes, however, it happens that the other side of a question is presented; and thus it was on the day before the entertainment, when Rosamond had taken her brother Tom to have his hair cut, and to choose some false moustaches, and the like requisites for their charades.

They went first to Pettitt’s, the little hair-dresser, where Tom was marvellously taken with the two Penates, and could hardly be dragged into the innermost recesses, where in the middle of a sheet, with a peignoir on his shoulders, he submitted to the clipping of his raven-black locks, as Mr. Pettitt called them, on the condition of his sister looking on.

Presently they heard some feet enter the outer shop, and Mrs. Duncombe’s voice asking for Mr. Pettitt; while his mother replied that he would wait on her immediately, but that he was just now engaged with the Honourable Mr. De Lancey.  “Could she show them anything?”

“Oh no, thank you, we’ll wait!  Don’t let us keep you, Mrs. Pettitt, it is only on business.”

“Ay!” said the other voice—­female, and entirely untamed.  “He’s your great ally about your gutters and drains, isn’t he?”

“The only landowner in Wil’sbro’ who has a particle of public spirit!” said Mrs. Duncombe.

Whereat good-natured Lady Rosamond could not but smile congratulation to the hair-cutter, who looked meekly elevated, while Tom whispered, “Proverb contradicted.”

But the other voice replied, “Of course—­he’s a perfumer, learned in smells!  You’d better drop it, Bessie! you’ll never make anything of it.”

“I’ll never drop what the health and life of hundreds of my fellow-creatures depend on!  I wish I could make you understand, Gussie!”