‘Unless,’ said Mr. Mohun, smiling, ’as Rotherwood would say, Jupiter will interfere.  Well, Jupiter has begun to take measures, and has asked Mrs. Weston to look out for a governess.  Eh!  Claude?’ he continued, after a pause, ’you set up your eyebrows, do you?  You think it will be a bore.  Very likely, but there is nothing else to be done.  Jane is under no control, Phyllis running wild, Ada worse managed than any child of my acquaintance—­’

’And poor Lily wearing herself to a shadow, in vain attempts to mend matters,’ said Claude.

‘If Lily was the eldest, things would be very different,’ said Mr. Mohun.

‘Or even if she had been as wise last year as she is now,’ said Claude, ’she would have kept Emily in order then, but now it is too late.’

‘This year is, on many accounts, much to be regretted,’ said Mr. Mohun, ‘but I think it has brought out Lily’s character.’

‘And a very fine character it is,’ said Claude.

’Very.  She has been, and is, more childish than Eleanor ever was, but she is her superior in most points.  She has been your pupil, Claude, and she does you credit.’

‘Thereby hangs a tale which does me no credit,’ muttered Claude, as he remembered how foolishly he had roused her spirit of contradiction, besides the original mischief of naming Eleanor the duenna; ’but we will not enter into that now.  I see this governess is their best chance.  Have you heard of one?’

’Of several; but the only one who seems likely to suit us is out of reach for the present, and I do not regret it, for I shall not decide till Eleanor comes.’

‘Emily will not be much pleased,’ said Claude.  ’It has long been her great dread that Aunt Rotherwood should recommend one.’

’Ay, Emily’s objections and your aunt’s recommendations are what I would gladly avoid,’ said Mr. Mohun.

‘But Lily!’ said Claude, returning to the subject on which he was most anxious.  ’She is already what Ada calls a monotony, and there will be nothing left of her by the time Eleanor comes, if matters go on in their present fashion.’

’I have a plan for her.  A little change will set her to rights, and we will take her to London when we go next week to meet Eleanor.  She deserves a little extra pleasure; you must take her under your protection, and lionise her well.’

‘Trust me for that,’ said Claude.  ’It is the best news I have heard for a long time.’

’Well, I am glad that one of my remedies meets with your approbation,’ said his father, smiling.  ’For the other, you are much inclined to pronounce the cure as bad as the disease.’

‘Not for Lily,’ said Claude, laughing.

‘And,’ said Mr. Mohun, ’I think I can promise you that a remedy will be found for all the other grievances by Michaelmas.’

Claude looked surprised, but as Mr. Mohun explained no further, only observing upon the potatoes, through which they were walking, he only said, ‘Then it is next week that you go to London.’