‘Would she, aunt?’ said Frank, looking demurely up into the countess’s face.  ’I rather think she likes fun and noise, and that sort of thing.  You know she’s not very quiet herself.’

’Ah!—­but, Frank, there are times, you know, when that sort of thing should be laid aside.  Fun, as you call it, is all very well in its place.  Indeed, no one likes it better than I do.  But that’s not the way to show admiration.  Young ladies like to be admired; and if you’ll be a little more soft-mannered with Miss Dunstable, I’m sure you’ll find it will answer better.’

And so the old bird taught the young bird how to fly—­very needlessly—­for in this matter of flying, Nature gives her own lessons thoroughly; and the ducklings will take the water, even though the maternal hen warn them against the perfidious element never so loudly.

Soon after this, Lady de Courcy began to be not very well pleased in the matter.  She took it into her head that Miss Dunstable was sometimes almost inclined to laugh at her; and on one or two occasions it almost seemed as though Frank was joining Miss Dunstable in doing so.  The fact indeed was, that Miss Dunstable was fond of fun; and, endowed as she was with all the privileges which two hundred thousand pounds may be supposed to give to a young lady, did not very much care at whom she laughed.  She was able to make a tolerably correct guess at Lady De Courcy’s plan towards herself; but she did not for a moment think that Frank had any intention of furthering his aunt’s views.  She was, therefore, not at all ill-inclined to have her revenge on the countess.

‘How very fond your aunt is of you!’ she said to him one wet morning, as he was sauntering through the house; now laughing, and almost romping with her—­then teasing his sister about Mr Moffat—­and then bothering his lady-cousins out of all their propriety.

‘Oh, very!’ said Frank:  ’she is a dear, good woman, is my Aunt De Courcy.’

’I declare she takes more notice of you and your doings than of any of your cousins.  I wonder they aren’t jealous.’

‘Oh! they’re such good people.  Bless me, they’d never be jealous.’

’You are so much younger than they are, that I suppose she thinks you want more of her care.’

‘Yes; that’s it.  You see she is fond of having a baby to nurse.’

’Tell me, Mr Gresham, what was it she was saying to you last night?  I know we have been misbehaving ourselves dreadfully.  It was all your fault; you would make me laugh so.’

‘That’s just what I said to her.’

‘She was talking about it, then?’

’How on earth should she talk of any one else as long as you are here?  Don’t you know that all the world is talking about you?’

’Is it?—­dear me, how kind!  But I don’t care a straw about any world at present but Lady de Courcy’s world.  What did she say?’

‘She said you were very beautiful—­’