“Is not this close combination of the two families rather odd?”

“I don’t think it is.  Poor Lord Fordham is very fond of Armine, and he hates the being driven abroad every winter so much, that the meeting Armine is the only pleasant ingredient.  And it has been convenient for Sydney to join our school-room party.  I was very glad also, that these last two summers, there have been visits at Fordham.  Staying there has given Mrs. Brownlow and the younger ones some insight into what the life at Belforest might be, but never has been; and they will not be kept out of it any longer.”

“Then they are going home!”

“After the London season.”

“Why, little Barbara is surely not coming out yet?”

“No; but Elvira is.”

“Ah! by the bye, was I not told that I was to have two weddings?”

“Allen wished it, but the Elf won’t hear of it.  She says she had no notion of turning into a stupid old married woman before she has had any fun.”

“Does she care for him?”

“I don’t think she is capable of caring for any one much.  I don’t know whether she may ever soften with age; but-—”

“Say it, Mary-—out with it.”

“I never saw such a heartless little butterfly!  She did not care a rush when her good old grandfather died, and I don’t believe she has one fraction more love for Mrs. Brownlow, or Allen, or anybody else.  The best thing I can see is that she is too young to perceive the prudence of securing Allen; but perhaps that is only frivolity, and he, poor fellow, is so devoted to her, that it is quite provoking to see how she trifles with and torments him.”

“Isn’t it rather good for the great Mr. Brownlow?  Not much besides has contradicted him, I should imagine.”

“His mother thinks that it is the perpetual restlessness in which Elvira keeps him that renders him so unsettled, and that if they were once married he would have some peace of mind, and be able to begin life in earnest.  But to hurry on the marriage is such a fearful risk, with such a creature as that sprite, that she has persuaded him to wait, and let the child be satisfied by this season in London, that she may not think they are cheating her of her young lady life.”

“It is on the cards, I suppose, that she might see some one whom she preferred to him?”

“Which might, in some aspects of the matter, be the best thing possible; but Mrs. Brownlow would have many conscientious scruples about the property, and Allen would be in utter despair.”

“Though, of course, all this would be far better than exposing that tropical-natured Spanish butterfly to meeting the subject of a grand passion too late,” said Mr. Ogilvie.

“Yes; of course that must be in his mother’s mind, though I don’t suppose she expresses it even to herself.  Miss Evelyn is coming out too, and is to be presented, which reconciles the younger ones to putting off all their schemes for working at Belforest, after the true Fordham and story-book fashion.  Besides, Mrs. Brownlow always feels that she has a duty towards Elvira, even apart from Allen.”