'Oh, I can put up with the vicar's antiquities, but not with the young
vicar's pedantic Oxonianism. He does think so well of himself, and quite
rules every one at home.'

'Oh! that is very fatiguing, I should think.'

'I wish he would fall in love with Miss Nugent, and she with him, and
carry off her forty-thousand pounds. She is silly enough for anything,
and it would be such a downfall to her mother's pride.'

'Her mother is much too careful, my dear, and by far too superior a
woman. And Miss Wilhelmina is very accomplished and all that sort of
thing, you know, and likely to make a fine match. She is very pretty,
too.'

'Yes; she and Netta Prothero would run in harness. Pretty, silly, rather
affected, and having drawn each four or five drawings, and learnt six
tunes on the piano. Only the one is more fashionable than the other. Do
you know, papa, Miss Nugent can play the Irish and Scotch quadrilles,
and Netta '_Ar hydy Nos,_' with small variations. We will have a
concert; you know I have asked the Rice Rices?'

'Very well, my dear. Now I think I will read a sermon to the servants,
so just ring the bell.'