‘If you must play practical jokes,’ said James, as they watched the carriage drive off, ’I wish you would choose better moments for them.’

‘I thought you would be more in character as a merman brave,’ said Louis.

‘I wonder what character you thought you appeared in?’

’I never meant you to discover it while they were here, nor would you, if you were not so careful of your complexion.  Come, throw it at my head now, as you would have done naturally, and we shall have fair weather again!’

‘I am only concerned at the impression you have made.’

’Too late now, is it?  You don’t mean to be bad company for the rest of the day.  It is too bad, after such a presence as has been here.  She is a poem in herself.  It is like a vision to see her move in that calm, gliding way.  Such eyes, so deep, so tranquil, revealing the sphere apart where she dwells!  An ideal!  How can you be savage after sitting in the same room, and hearing that sweet, low voice?’

Meantime the young lady sat back in the carriage, dreamily hearing, and sometimes answering, the conversation of her two elders, as they returned through pretty forest-drives into the park of Beauchastel, and up to the handsome, well-kept house; where, after a few words from Mrs. Mansell, she ascended the stairs.

‘Isabel!’ cried a bright voice, and a girl of fourteen came skating along the polished oak corridor.  ’Come and have some tea in the school-room, and tell us your adventures!’ And so saying, she dragged the dignified Isabel into an old-fashioned sitting-room, where a little pale child, two years younger, sprang up, and, with a cry of joy, clung round the elder sister.

‘My white bind-weed,’ said Isabel, fondly caressing her, ’have you been out on the pony?’

‘Oh I yes, we wanted only you.  Sit down there.’

And as Isabel obeyed, the little Louisa placed herself on her lap, with one arm round her neck, and looked with proud glee at the kind, sensible-faced governess who was pouring out the tea.

‘The reconnoitring party!’ eagerly cried Virginia.

‘Did you find the cousin?’

‘Yes, we did.’

‘Oh!  Then what is he like?’

‘You will see when he comes on Monday.’

‘Coming—­oh!  And is he so very handsome?’

‘I can see how pretty a woman your Aunt Louisa must have been.’

‘News!’ laughed Virginia; ’when mamma is always preaching to me to be like her!’

‘Is he goodnatured?’ asked Louisa.

‘I had not full means of judging,’ said Isabel, more thoughtfully than seemed justified by the childish question.  ’His cousin is coming too,’ she added; ‘Mr. Frost Dynevor.’

‘Another cousin!’ exclaimed Virginia.

’No; a relation of Lord Ormersfield—­a person to be much respected.  He is heir to a lost estate, and of a very grand old family.  Lord Fitzjocelyn says that he is exerting himself to the very utmost for his grandmother and orphan sister; denying himself everything.  He is to be a clergyman.  There was a book of divinity open on the table.’