“What’s this?” as he went on with the paper; “your manuscript entitled ‘Curatocult.’  Is that the word?  I had taken it for the produce of Miss Curtis’s unassisted genius.”

“Have you heard her use it!” said Ermine, disconcerted, having by no means intended to betray Rachel.

“Oh yes!  I heard her declaiming on Sunday about what she knows no more about than Conrade!  A detestable, pragmatical, domineering girl!  I am thankful that I advised Lady Temple only to take the house for a year.  It was right she should see her relations, but she must not be tyrannized over.”

“I don’t believe she dislikes it.”

“She dislikes no one!  She used to profess a liking for a huge Irishwoman, whose husband had risen from the ranks; the most tremendous woman I ever saw, except Miss Curtis.”

“You know they were brought up together like sisters.”

“All the worse, for she has the habit of passive submission.  If it were the mother it would be all right, and I should be thankful to see her in good keeping, but the mother and sister go for nothing, and down comes this girl to battle every suggestion with principles picked up from every catchpenny periodical, things she does not half understand, and enunciates as if no one had even heard of them before.”

“I believe she seldom meets any one who has.  I mean to whom they are matters of thought.  I really do like her vigour and earnestness.”

“Don’t say so, Ermine!  One reason why she is so intolerable to me is that she is a grotesque caricature of what you used to be.”

“You have hit it!  I see why I always liked her, besides that it is pleasant to have any sort of visit, and a good scrimmage is refreshing; she is just what I should have been without papa and Edward to keep me down, and without the civilizing atmosphere at the park.”

“Never.”

“No, I was not her equal in energy and beneficence, and I was younger when you came.  But I feel for her longing to be up and doing, and her puzzled chafing against constraint and conventionality, though it breaks out in very odd effervescences.”

“Extremely generous of you when you must be bored to death with her interminable talk.”

“You don’t appreciate the pleasure of variety!  Besides, she really interests me, she is so full of vigorous crudities.  I believe all that is unpleasing in her arises from her being considered as the clever woman of the family; having no man nearly connected enough to keep her in check, and living in society that does not fairly meet her.  I want you to talk to her, and take her in hand.”

“Me!  Thank you, Ermine!  Why, I could not even stand her talking about you, though she has the one grace of valuing you.”

“Then you ought, in common gratitude, for there is no little greatness of soul in patiently coming down to Mackarel Lane to be snubbed by one’s cousin’s governess’s sister.”