Mrs. Bazalgette.  “Jane, come to my room a minute; I have something for you.  Here is a cashmere gown and cloak; the cloak I want; I can wear it with anything; but you may have the gown.”

“Oh, thank you, mum; it is beautiful, and a’most as good as new.  I am sure, mum, I am very much obliged to you for your kindness.”

“No, no, you are a good girl, and a sensible girl.  By the by, you might give me your opinion upon something.  Does Miss Lucy prefer any one of our guests?  You understand me.”

“Well, mum, it is hard to say.  Miss Lucy is as reserved as ever.”

“Oh, I thought she might—­ahem!”

“No, mum, I do assure you, not a word.”

“Well, but you are a shrewd girl; tell me what you think:  now, for instance, suppose she was compelled to choose between, say Mr. Hardie and Mr. Talboys, which would it be?”

“Well, mum, if you ask my opinion, I don’t think Miss Lucy is the one to marry a fool; and by all accounts, there’s a deal more in Mr. Hardies’s head than what there isn’t in Mr. Talboysese’s.”

“You are a clever girl.  You shall have the cloak as well, and, if my niece marries, you shall remain in her service all the same.”

“Thank you kindly, mum.  I don’t desire no better mistress, married or single; and Mr. Hardies is much respected in the town, and heaps o’ money; so miss and me we couldn’t do no better, neither of us.  Your servant, mum, and thanks you for your bounty”; and Jane courtesied twice and went off with the spoils.

In the corridor she met old Fountain.  “Stop, Jane,” said he, “I want to speak to you.”

“At your service, sir.”

“In the first place, I want to give you something to buy a new gown”; and he took out a couple of sovereigns.  “Where am I to put them? in your breast-pocket?”

“Put them under the cloak, sir,” murmured Jane, tenderly.  She loved sovereigns.

He put his hand under the heap of cashmere, and a quick little claw hit the coins and closed on them by almighty instinct.

“Now I want to ask your opinion.  Is my niece in love with anyone?”

“Well, Mr. Fountains, if she is she don’t show it.”

“But doesn’t she like one man better than another?”

“You may take your oath of that, if we could but get to her mind.”

“Which does she like best, this Hardie or Mr. Talboys?  Come, tell me, now.”

“Well, sir, you know Mr. Talboys is an old acquaintance, and like brother and sister at Font Abbey.  I do suppose she have been a scare of times alone with him for one, with Mr. Hardie’s.  That she should take up with a stranger and jilt an old acquaintance, now is it feasible?”

“Why, of course not.  It was a foolish question; you are a young woman of sense.  Here’s a 5 pound note for you.  You must not tell I spoke to you.”

“Now is it likely, sir?  My character would be broken forever.”