“Between fact and pretension.  But write or not write, there is an instinctive avoidance of an intellectual woman.”

“Not always, for the simple manner that goes with real superiority is generally very attractive.  The larger and deeper the mind, the more there would be of the genuine humbleness and gentleness that a shallow nature is incapable of.  The very word humility presupposes depth.”

“I see what you mean,” said Rachel.  “Gentleness is not feebleness, nor lowness lowliness.  There must be something held back.”

“I see it daily,” said Colonel Keith; and for a moment he seemed about to add something, but checked himself, and took advantage of an interruption to change the conversation.

“Superior natures lowly and gentle!” said Rachel to herself.  “Am I so to him, then, or is he deceiving himself?  What is to be done?  At my age!  Such a contravention of my principles!  A soldier, an honourable, a title in prospect, Fanny’s major!  Intolerable!  No, no!  My property absorbed by a Scotch peerage, when I want it for so many things!  Never.  I am sorry for him though.  It is hard that a man who can forgive a woman for intellect, should be thrown back on poor little Fanny; and it is gratifying—.  But I am untouched yet, and I will take care of myself.  At my age a woman who loves at all, loves with all the gathered force of her nature, and I certainly feel no such passion.  No, certainly not; and I am resolved not to be swept along till I have made up my mind to yield to the force of the torrent.  Let us see.”

“Grace, my dear,” said Mrs. Curtis, in one of her most confidential moments, “is not dear Rachel looking very well?  I never saw her dress so well put on.”

“Yes, she is looking very handsome,” said Grace.  “I am glad she has consented to have her hair in that now way, it is very becoming to her.”

“I—­I don’t know that it is all the hair,” said the mother, faltering, as if half ashamed of herself; “but it seemed to me that we need not have been so uneasy about dear Fanny.  I think, don’t you? that there may be another attraction.  To be sure, it would be at a terrible distance from us; but so good and kind as he is, it would be such a thing for you and Fanny as well—­” Grace gave a great start.

“Yes, my dear,” Mrs. Curtis gently prosed on with her speculation, “she would be a dreadful loss to us; but you see, so clever and odd as she is, and with such peculiar ideas, I should be so thankful to see her in the hands of some good, sensible man that would guide her.”

“But do you really think it is so, mother?”

“Mind, my dear, it is nothing to build on, but I cannot help being struck, and just thinking to myself.  I know you’ll not say anything.”