I could not deny this.  Lesbia certainly looked far from strong, and then she took cold so easily.  I hinted that perhaps late hours and so much visiting (for the Fullertons had an immense circle of acquaintances, with possibly half a dozen friends among them) might be bad for her.

Mrs. Fullerton looked rather mournful at this.

‘I hope you have not put that in her head,’ she returned uneasily.  ’All yesterday she was begging me to give up the place and go back to Rutherford Lodge.  Major Parkhurst is going to India in February, and so the house will be on our hands.’

’I think the change will be good for Lesbia.  It is such a pretty place, and she was always so fond of it.’

‘Oh, it is pretty enough,’ with a discontented air; ’but life in a village is a very tame affair.  There are not more than four families in the whole place whom we can visit, and when we want a little gaiety we have to drive into Pinkerton.’

‘I think it would be good for Lesbia’s health, Mrs. Fullerton.’

‘Well, well,’ a little peevishly, ’we must talk to Dr. Pratt about it.  But how is Lesbia to settle well if I bury her in that poky little village?  Perhaps I ought not to say so to you, Ursula; but poor dear Charlie has been dead these two years, so there can be no harm in speaking of such things now.  But Sir Henry Sinclair is here a great deal, and there is no mistaking his intentions, only Lesbia keeps him at such a distance.’

I thought it very bad taste of Mrs. Fullerton always to talk to me about Lesbia’s suitors.  Lesbia never mentioned such things herself.  As far as I could judge, she was very shy with them all.  I could not believe that the placid young baronet had any chance with her.  She might possibly marry, but poor Charlie’s successor would hardly be a thick-set, clumsy young man, with few original ideas of his own.  Colonel Ferguson would have been far better; but he evidently preferred Sara.

I was spared any reply, for Lesbia entered the room at that moment.  She looked more delicately fair than usual, perhaps because of the contrast with her heavy furs.  Her hair shone like gold under her little velvet bonnet, but, though she was so warmly dressed, she shivered and crept as close as possible to the fire.

Mrs. Fullerton had some notes to write, so she went into the dining-room to write them and very good-naturedly left us by ourselves.

Lesbia looked at me rather wistfully.

’I have missed you twice, Ursula.  I am so sorry; and now you go the day after to-morrow.  I wish I could do something for you.  Is there nothing you could leave in my charge?’

‘Only Jill,’ I said, half laughing.  ’If you would take a little more notice of her after I have gone, I should be so thankful to you.’

I thought Lesbia seemed somewhat amused at the request.

’Poor old Jill!  I will do my best; but she never will talk to me.  I think I should like her better than Sara if she would only open her lips to me.  Well, Ursula, what have you and mother been talking about?’