"You had better wait till you know whether he will," observed Alick.

"Will? Oh, he is always pleased to feel he can do like other people,"

returned Bessie, "and I'll undertake to see that he puts the ring on the

right--I mean the left finger. Because you'll have to give me away, you

know, Alick, so you can look after him."

"You seem to have arranged the programme pretty thoroughly," said

Rachel.

"After four weddings at home, one can't but lay by a little experience

for the future," returned Bessie; "and after all, Alick need not look

as if it must be for oneself. He is quite welcome to profit by it, if he

has the good taste to want my uncle to marry him."

"Not unless I were very clear that he liked my choice," said Alick,

gravely.

"Oh, dear! Have you any doubts, or is that meant for a cut at poor

innocent me, as if I could help people's folly, or as if he was not gone

to Rio Janeiro," exclaimed Bessie, with a sort of meek simplicity and

unconsciousness that totally removed all the unsatisfactoriness of the

speech, and made even her brother smile while he looked annoyed; and

Lady Temple quietly changed the conversation. Alick Keith was obliged to

go away early, and the three ladies sat long in the garden outside the

window, in the summer twilight, much relishing the frank-hearted way in

which this engaging girl talked of herself and her difficulties to Fanny

as to an old friend, and to Rachel as belonging to Fanny.

"I am afraid that I was very naughty," she said, with a hand laid on

Lady Temple's, as if to win pardon; "but I never can resist plaguing

that dear anxious brother of mine, and he did so dreadfully take to

heart the absurdities of that little Charlie Carleton, as if any one

with brains could think him good for anything but a croquet partner,

that I could not help giving a little gentle titillation. I saw you did

not like it, dear Lady Temple, and I am sorry for it."

"I hope I did not vex you," said Fanny, afraid of having been severe.

"Oh, no, indeed; a little check just makes one feel one is cared for,"

and they kissed affectionately: "you see when one has a very wise

brother, plaguing him is irresistible. How little Stephana will plague

hers, in self-defence, with so many to keep her in order."

"They all spoil her."

"Ah, this is the golden age. See what it will be when they think

themselves responsible for her! Dear Lady Temple, how could you send him

home so old and so grave?"

"I am afraid we sent him home very ill. I never expected to see him so

perfectly recovered. I could hardly believe my eyes when Colonel Keith

brought him to the carriage not in the least lame."




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