As soon as it was late enough to make a call, Rosamond went to Mrs.

Plymdale, Mr. Ned's mother, and entered with pretty congratulations

into the subject of the coming marriage. Mrs. Plymdale's maternal view

was, that Rosamond might possibly now have retrospective glimpses of

her own folly; and feeling the advantages to be at present all on the

side of her son, was too kind a woman not to behave graciously.

"Yes, Ned is most happy, I must say. And Sophy Toller is all I could

desire in a daughter-in-law. Of course her father is able to do

something handsome for her--that is only what would be expected with a

brewery like his. And the connection is everything we should desire.

But that is not what I look at. She is such a very nice girl--no airs,

no pretensions, though on a level with the first. I don't mean with

the titled aristocracy. I see very little good in people aiming out of

their own sphere. I mean that Sophy is equal to the best in the town,

and she is contented with that."

"I have always thought her very agreeable," said Rosamond.

"I look upon it as a reward for Ned, who never held his head too high,

that he should have got into the very best connection," continued Mrs.

Plymdale, her native sharpness softened by a fervid sense that she was

taking a correct view. "And such particular people as the Tollers are,

they might have objected because some of our friends are not theirs.

It is well known that your aunt Bulstrode and I have been intimate from

our youth, and Mr. Plymdale has been always on Mr. Bulstrode's side.

And I myself prefer serious opinions. But the Tollers have welcomed

Ned all the same."

"I am sure he is a very deserving, well-principled young man," said

Rosamond, with a neat air of patronage in return for Mrs. Plymdale's

wholesome corrections.

"Oh, he has not the style of a captain in the army, or that sort of

carriage as if everybody was beneath him, or that showy kind of

talking, and singing, and intellectual talent. But I am thankful he

has not. It is a poor preparation both for here and Hereafter."

"Oh dear, yes; appearances have very little to do with happiness," said

Rosamond. "I think there is every prospect of their being a happy

couple. What house will they take?"

"Oh, as for that, they must put up with what they can get. They have

been looking at the house in St. Peter's Place, next to Mr. Hackbutt's;

it belongs to him, and he is putting it nicely in repair. I suppose

they are not likely to hear of a better. Indeed, I think Ned will

decide the matter to-day."




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