‘Of course,’ said Dorothy.

’And I think that serious conversation upon the whole has more allurements than conversation which when you come to examine it is found to mean nothing.  Don’t you?’

‘I suppose everybody should mean something when he talks.’

‘Just so.  That is exactly my idea,’ said Mr Gibson.  ’On all such subjects as that I should be so sorry if you and I did not agree.  I really should.’  Then he paused, and Dorothy was so confounded by what she conceived to be the dangers of the coming moment that she was unable even to think what she ought to say.  She heard Mrs MacHugh’s clear, sharp, merry voice, and she heard her aunt’s tone of pretended anger, and she heard Sir Peter’s continued laughter, and Brooke Burgess as he continued the telling of some story; but her own trouble was too great to allow of her attending to what was going on at the other end of the room.  ’There is nothing as to which I am so anxious as that you and I should agree about serious things,’ said Mr Gibson.

‘I suppose we do agree about going to church,’ said Dorothy.  She knew that she could have made no speech more stupid, more senseless, more inefficacious but what was she to say in answer to such an assurance?

‘I hope so,’ said Mr Gibson; ’and I think so.  Your aunt is a most excellent woman, and her opinion has very great weight with me on all subjects even as to matters of church discipline and doctrine, in which, as a clergyman, I am of course presumed to be more at home.  But your aunt is a woman among a thousand.’

‘Of course I think she is very good.’

’And she is so right about this young man and her property.  Don’t you think so?’

‘Quite right, Mr Gibson.’

’Because, you know, to you, of course, being her near relative, and the one she has singled out as the recipient of her kindness, it might have been cause for some discontent.’

‘Discontent to me, Mr Gibson!’

’I am quite sure your feelings are what they ought to be.  And for myself, if I ever were that is to say, supposing I could be in any way interested.  But perhaps it is premature to make any suggestion on that head at present.’

‘I don’t at all understand what you mean, Mr Gibson.’

’I thought that perhaps I might take this opportunity of expressing-.  But, after all, the levity of the moment is hardly in accordance with the sentiments which I should wish to express.’

’I think that I ought to go to my aunt now, Mr Gibson, as perhaps she might want something.’  Then she did push back her chair and stand upon her legs-and Mr Gibson, after pausing for a moment, allowed her to escape.  Soon after that the visitors went, and Brooke Burgess was left in the drawing-room with Miss Stanbury and Dorothy.

‘How well I recollect all the people,’ said Brooke; ’Sir Peter, and old Mrs MacHugh; and Mrs Powel who then used to be called the beautiful Miss Noel.  And I remember every bit of furniture in the room.’