“True! Or even with the fascinating Calverleigh!”

“Now, Abby—”

“Well, it would be,” said Abby candidly. “Any girl would prefer the company of a taking young man to that of her aunt! But it won’t do, Selina.”

“I am persuaded that when you have made his acquaintance—not that I would for a moment encourage her—oh, dear how very affecting it is! You will have to tell her, for I know I could never bring myself to do so!”

“Dearest, it isn’t so dreadful that you need fall into affliction! It’s certainly unfortunate, and I wish with all my heart that she might have been spared such a painful disappointment, but she’ll recover from it. As for forbidding her to see Calverleigh, or telling her the things that are said of him, I’m not such a widgeon! She would fly to his defence! But if he were to draw off? Not compelled to do so, but because he discovered her to be not such a rich plum as he had supposed ? She might suffer a little unhappiness, but not for long. She’s not the girl to wear the willow for a mere flirt!” She added thoughtfully: “And she couldn’t, under those circumstances, fancy herself to be a star-crossed lover, could she ? I do feel that that should be avoided at all costs, for although I’ve never been star-crossed myself I can readily perceive how romantic it would be. Selina, I never knew Fanny’s mother at all well, but you must have done so. Was she high-spirited, like Fanny? Rather too dashing, perhaps, to suit the Wendover notions of propriety?”

“Celia? Good gracious, no!” replied Selina. “She was very pretty—quite lovely, when she was a girl, but she went off sadly, which I do hope and pray Fanny won’t, because she is very like her in countenance,and Mama always was used to say that fair beauties seldom wear well. But Fanny isn’t in the least like her in disposition! She has so much liveliness, and poor Celia was a very quiet, shy girl, and most persuadable! What makes you ask me about her?”