‘Radaratade,’ said the Marquis, laughing.  ’By the bye, if Eleanor and Frank Hawkesworth manage well, they may be here in time.’

‘Because they are so devoted to gaiety?’ said Claude.  ’You will say next that William is coming from Canada, on purpose.’

‘That tall captain!’ said Lord Rotherwood.  ’He used to be a very awful person.’

‘Ah! he used to keep the spoilt Marquis in order,’ said Claude.

‘To say nothing of the spoilt Claude,’ returned Lord Rotherwood.

‘Claude never was spoilt,’ said Lily.

‘It was not Eleanor’s way,’ said Emily.

‘At least she cannot be accused of spoiling me,’ said Lord Rotherwood.  ’I shall never dare to write at that round table again—­ her figure will occupy the chair like Banquo’s ghost, and wave me off with a knitting needle.’

’Ah! that stain of ink was a worse blot on your character than on the new table cover,’ said Claude.

‘She was rigidly impartial,’ said Lord Rotherwood.

‘No,’ said Claude, ’she made exceptions in favour of Ada and me.  She left the spoiling of the rest to Emily.’

’And well Emily will perform it!  A pretty state you will be in by the 30th of July, 1846,’ said Lord Rotherwood.

‘Why should not Emily make as good a duenna as Eleanor?’ said Lily.

‘Why should she not?  She will not—­that is all,’ said the Marquis.  ’Such slow people you all are!  You would all go to sleep if I did not sometimes rouse you up a little—­grow stagnant.’

‘Not an elegant comparison,’ said Lilias; ’besides, you must remember that your hasty brawling streams do not reflect like tranquil lakes.’

‘One of Lily’s poetical hits, I declare!’ said Lord Rotherwood, ’but she need not have taken offence—­I did not refer to her—­only Claude and Emily, and perhaps—­no, I will not say who else.’

’Then, Rotherwood, I will tell you what I am—­the Lily that derives all its support from the calm lake.’

‘Well done, Lily, worthy of yourself,’ cried Lord Rotherwood, laughing, ‘but you know I am always off when you talk poetry.’

‘I suspect it is time for us all to be off,’ said Claude, ’did I not hear it strike the quarter?’

‘And to-morrow I shall be off in earnest,’ said Lord Rotherwood.  ’Half way to London before Claude has given one turn to “his sides, and his shoulders, and his heavy head."’

‘Shall we see you at Easter?’ said Emily.

’No, I do not think you will.  I am engaged to stay with somebody somewhere, I forget the name of place and man; besides, Grosvenor Square is more tolerable then than at any other time of the year, and I shall spend a fortnight with my mother and Florence.  It is after Easter that you come to Oxford, is it not, Claude?’

’Yes, my year of idleness will be over.  And there is the Baron looking at his watch.’