‘If you have Miss Moffat,’ said Alexandrina, ’you must have dear Pussy too; and I really think that Pussy is too young; it will be troublesome.’  Pussy was the youngest Miss Gresham, who was now only eight years old, and whose real name was Nina.

‘Augusta,’ said Beatrice, speaking with some slight hesitation, some soupcon of doubt before the highest authority of her noble cousin, ’if you do have Miss Moffat would you mind asking Mary Thorne to join her?  I think Mary would like it, because, you see, Patience Oriel is to be one; and we have known Mary much longer than we have known Patience.’

Then out and spake the Lady Alexandrina.

’Beatrice, dear, if you think of what you are asking, I am sure you will see that it would not do; would not do at all.  Miss Thorne is a very nice girl, I am sure; and, indeed, what little I have seen of her I highly approve.  But, after all, who is she?  Mamma, I know, thinks that Aunt Arabella has been wrong to let be here so much, but—­’

Beatrice became rather red in the face, and, in spite of the dignity of her cousin, was preparing to defend her friend.

‘Mind, I am not saying a word against Miss Thorne.’

‘If I am married before her, she shall be one of my bridesmaids,’ said Beatrice.

‘That will probably depend on circumstances,’ said the Lady Alexandrina; I find that I cannot bring my courteous pen to drop the title.  ’But Augusta is very peculiarly situated.  Mr Moffat, is, you see, not of the very highest birth; and, therefore, she should take care that on her side every one about her is well born.’

‘Then you cannot have Miss Moffat,’ said Beatrice.

‘No; I would not if I could help it,’ said the cousin.

‘But the Thornes are as good a family as the Greshams,’ said Beatrice.  She had not quite the courage to say, as good as the De Courcys.

’I dare say they are; and if this was Miss Thorne of Ullathorne, Augusta probably would not object to her.  But can you tell me who Miss Mary Thorne is?’

‘She is Dr Thorne’s niece.’

’You mean that she is called so; but do you know who her father was, or who her mother was?  I, for one, must own that I do not.  Mamma, I believe, does, but—­’

At this moment the door opened gently and Mary Thorne entered the room.

It may easily be conceived, that while Mary was making her salutations the three other young ladies were a little cast aback.  The Lady Alexandrina, however, quickly recovered herself, and, by her inimitable presence of mind and facile grace of manner, soon put the matter on a proper footing.

‘We were discussing Miss Gresham’s marriage,’ said she; ’I am sure I may mention to an acquaintance of so long standing as Miss Thorne, that the first of September has been now fixed for the wedding.’

Miss Gresham!  Acquaintance of so long standing!  Why, Mary and Augusta Gresham had for years, we will hardly say for how many, passed their mornings together in the same schoolroom; had quarrelled, and squabbled, and caressed and kissed, and been all but sisters to each other.  Acquaintance indeed!  Beatrice felt that her ears were tingling, and even Augusta was a little ashamed.  Mary, however, knew that the cold words had come from a De Courcy, and not from a Gresham, and did not, therefore, resent them.