“And what do you think of Allen?  He seems very pleasant and gentlemanly.”

“That’s just what he is!  He has always been as agreeable and nice as possible all these eight years that I have been with them, and has treated me entirely as his mother’s old friend.  I can’t help liking Allen very much, and wondering what he would have been if-—if he had had to work for his living-—or if Elvira had not been such a little tormenting goose—-or if, all manner of ifs-—indeed; but they all resolve themselves into one question if there be much stuff in him!”

“If not, he is the only one of the family without, except, perhaps, Jock.”

“Oh! if you saw Jock now, you would not doubt that there’s plenty of substance in him!  He has been a very different person ever since his illness in Switzerland, as full of life and fun as ever, but thoroughly in earnest about doing right.  He had an immense number of marks for the army examination, and seems by all accounts to be keeping up to regular work, now that it is more voluntary.”

“Is he not rather wasted on the Guards!”

“Well, that was Sir James Evelyn’s doing.  They are glad enough to have him there to look after his friend, Mr. Evelyn, and it was one of the cases where the decision for life has to be made before the youth is old enough to understand his full capabilities.  I expect Lucas, to give him his right name, will do something distinguished yet, perhaps be a great General; and I hope Sir James has interest enough to get him employment before he has eaten his heart out on drill and parade.  Now that Armine’s health is coming round, I do leave Caroline very happy about the younger half of her family.”

“And the elder half?”

“Well!  I sometimes think that there must have been something defective in the management of that excellent doctor and his mother, as if they had never taught the children proper loyal respect for her!  The three younger ones have it all right, and the two elder sons are as fond of her as possible; but she never had any authority over those three from the first.  Only Allen is too gentle and has too much good taste to show it; while as to the other two, Bobus’s contempt is of a kindly, filial, petting description; Janet’s, a nasty, defiant, overt disregard.”

“Impossible!  They could not dare to despise her.”

“They do, for the very things that are best in her; and so far I think the Evelyn intercourse has been unlucky, since they ascribe her greater religiousness to what it suits their democratic notions to scorn.  Not that there is much to complain of in Bobus’s manner when we do see him.  He only uses little stings of satire, chiefly about Lord Fordham.  I don’t think he would knowingly pain his mother if he could help it; and for that reason there is a reserve between them.”

“He is eating his terms in the Temple, is he not?  And Janet?  Is she studying medicine still?  Does she mean to practise?”