‘I hope you made the refusal evident to his intellect.’

’He drove me to be more explicit than I intended.  I think he was astonished.  He stared at me for full three minutes before he could believe in the refusal.  Poor lad, it must be real attachment, there could be no other inducement.’

‘And Lucy is exceedingly pretty.’

Mr. Kendal glanced at the portrait over the mantelpiece smiled sadly, and shook his head.

‘Poor dear,’ continued Albinia, ’what a commotion there will be in her head; but she has behaved so well hitherto, that I hope we may steer her safely through, above all, if one of the six cousins will but catch him in the rebound!  Have you spoken to her?’

‘Is it necessary?’

‘So asked her grandfather,’ said Albinia, smiling, as he, a little out of countenance, muttered something of ’foolish affair—­mere child—­and turn her head—­’

‘That’s done!’ said Albinia, ’we have only to try to get it straight.  Besides, it would hardly be just to let her think he had meant nothing, and I have promised to deal openly with her, otherwise we can hardly hope for plain dealing from her.’

‘And you think it will be a serious disappointment?’

’She is highly flattered by his attention, but I don’t know how deep it may have gone.’

‘I wish people would let one’s daughters alone!’ exclaimed Mr. Kendal.  ’You will talk to her then, Albinia, and don’t let her think me more harsh than you can help, and come and tell me how she bears it.’

‘Won’t you speak to her yourself?’

‘Do you think I must?’ he said, reluctantly; ’you know so much better how to manage her.’

‘I think you must do this, dear Edmund,’ she said, between decision and entreaty.  ’She knows that I dislike the man, and may fancy it my doing it she only hears it at second hand.  If you speak, there will be no appeal, and besides there are moments when the really nearest should have no go-betweens.’

‘We were not very near without you,’ he said.  ’If it were Sophy, I should know better what to be about.’

‘Sophy would not put you in such a fix.’

‘So I have fancied—­’ he paused, smiling, while she waited in eager curiosity, such as made him finish as if ashamed.  ’I have thought our likings much the same.  Have you never observed what I mean?’

’Oh!  I never observe anything.  I did not find out Maurice and Winifred till he told me.  Who do you think it is?  I always thought love would be the making of Sophy.  I see she is another being.  What is your guess, Mr. Hope?’

Mr. Kendal made a face of astonishment at such an improbable guess, and was driven into exclaiming, ’How could any one help thinking of O’More?’

‘Oh! only too delightful!’ cried Albinia.  ’Why didn’t I think of it—­but then his way is so free and cousinly with us all.’

‘There may be nothing in it,’ said Mr. Kendal; ’and under present circumstances it would hardly be desirable.’