‘I wish she would be, my dear,’ said Mr. Kendal; ’but she is too independent, and your mamma thinks she would consider it as a mere farce to call her little Albinia’s governess, but if you can persuade her—­’

’What I want you to do, papa, is to promise that she shall be married from this house, as her home, and that you will fit her out as you did Lucy.’

‘Ha!  Is she beginning to relent?’

‘No, papa.  It will be Ulick O’More.’

‘You don’t mean it!’ exclaimed Mr. Kendal, more taken by surprise than perhaps he had ever been, and looking at his wife, who was standing dismayed, yet admiring the gallant girl who had forestalled her precautions.  Obliged to speak, she said, ’I am afraid so, Sophy and I witnessed a scene to-day.’

‘Afraid?’ said Mr. Kendal; ’I see no reason to be afraid, if Ulick likes it.  They are two of the most agreeable and best people that ever fell in my way, and I shall be delighted if they can arrange it, for they are perfectly suited to each other.’

‘But such a match!’ exclaimed Albinia.

’As to that, a sensible, economical wife will be worth more to him than an expensive one, with however large a fortune.  And for the family pride, I am glad the lad has more sense than I feared; he has a full right to please himself, having won the place he has, and he may make his father consent.  He wants a wife—­nothing else will keep him from running headlong into speculation, for want of something to do.  Yes, I see what you are thinking of, my dear, but you know we could not wish her, as you said yourself, never to form another attachment.’

‘But here!’ sighed Albinia, the ground knocked away from under her, yet still clinging to the last possible form of murmur.

‘It will cost us something,’ said Mr. Kendal, ’but no more than we will cheerfully bear, for the sake of one who has such claims upon us; and it will be amply repaid by having such a pair of friends settled close to us.’

‘Then you will, papa?’ said Sophy.

‘Will do what, my dear?’

‘Treat her as—­as you did Lucy, papa.’

’And with much more pleasure, and far more hope, than when we fitted out poor Lucy,’ said Mr. Kendal.

Sophy thanked him, and said ‘Good-night;’ and the look which accompanied her kiss to her step-mother was a binding over to secrecy and non-interference.

‘Is she gone?’ said Mr. Kendal, who had been musing after his last words.  ’Gone to tell her friend, I suppose?  I wanted to ask what this scene was.’

‘Oh!’ said Albinia, ’it was in the garden—­we saw it from the window—­only he brought her a bit of holly, and was trying to kiss her hand.’

‘Strong premises, certainly.  How did she receive the advance?’

‘She would not listen, but made her escape.’

’Then matters are not in such a state of progress as for me to congratulate her?  I suppose that you ladies are the best judges whether he may not meet with the same fate as poor Hope?’