"Jenny is very well read," said Julius, "a very sensible person."

"Yes," said Frank; "she was the only person here that so much as
tried to read Browning. But if Cecil wants intellect, she had
better take to the Duncombes, the queerest firm I ever fell in with.
He makes the turf a regular profession, actually gets a livelihood
out of his betting-book; and she is in the strong-minded line--
woman's rights, and all the rest of it."

"We never had such people at Dunstone," said Cecil. "Papa always
said that the evil of being in parliament was the having to be civil
to everybody."

Just then Raymond came back with intelligence that his mother was
about to go to bed, and to call his wife to wish her good night.
All went in succession to do the same.

"My dear," she said to Anne, "I hoped you were in bed."

"I thought I would wait for family worship."

"I am afraid we don't have prayers at night, my dear. We must
resume them in the morning, now Raymond and Julius are come."

Poor Anne looked all the whiter, and only mumbled out a few answers
to the kind counsels lavished upon her. Mrs. Poynsett was left to
think over her daughters-in-law.

Lady Rosamond did not occupy her much. There was evidently plenty