Nevertheless, he went with a smiling face and a light step, Lady Margaretta ushering him the way.  “Mamma,” said she, “I have brought Mr Crosbie up to you.  I did not know that you were here, Alexandrina, or I should have warned him.”

The countess and her youngest daughter had been breakfasting together in the elder lady’s sitting-room, and were now seated in a very graceful and well-arranged deshabille.  The tea-cups out of which they had been drinking were made of some elegant porcelain, the teapot and cream-jug were of chased silver and as delicate in their sway.  The remnant of food consisted of morsels of French roll which had not even been allowed to crumble themselves in a disorderly fashion, and of infinitesimal pats of butter.  If the morning meal of the two ladies had been as unsubstantial as the appearance of the fragments indicated, it must be presumed that they intended to lunch early.  The countess herself was arrayed in an elaborate morning wrapper of figured silk, but the simple Alexandrina wore a plain white muslin peignoir, fastened with pink ribbon.  Her hair, which she usually carried in long rolls, now hung loose over her shoulders, and certainly added something to her stock of female charms.  The countess got up as Crosbie entered and greeted him with an open hand; but Alexandrina kept her seat, and merely nodded at him a little welcome.  “I must run down again,” said Margaretta, “or I shall have left Amelia with all the cares of the house upon her.”

“Alexandrina has told me all about it,” said the countess, with her sweetest smile, “and I have given her my approval.  I really do think you will suit each other very well.”

“I am very much obliged to you,” said Crosbie.  “I’m sure at any rate of this,—­that she will suit me very well.”

“Yes; I think she will.  She is a good sensible girl.”

“Psha, mamma; pray don’t go on in that Goody Twoshoes sort of way.”

“So you are, my dear.  If you were not it would not be well for you to do as you are going to do.  If you were giddy and harum-scarum, and devoted to rank and wealth and that sort of thing, it would not be well for you to marry a commoner without fortune.  I’m sure Mr Crosbie will excuse me for saying so much as that.”

“Of course I know,” said Crosbie, “that I had no right to look so high.”

“Well; we’ll say nothing more about it,” said the countess.

“Pray don’t,” said Alexandrina.  “It sounds so like a sermon.”

“Sit down, Mr Crosbie,” said the countess, “and let us have a little conversation.  She shall sit by you, if you like it.  Nonsense, Alexandrina,—­if he asks it!”

“Don’t, mamma;—­I mean to remain where I am.”

“Very well, my dear;—­then remain where you are.  She is a wilful girl, Mr Crosbie; as you will say when you hear that she has told me all that you told her last night.”  Upon hearing this, he changed colour a little, but said nothing.  “She has told me,” continued the countess, “about that young lady at Allington.  Upon my word, I’m afraid you have been very naughty.”