'So I perceive you have dropped the title already,' observed he to
Laura.

'Yes,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, replying for her daughter, 'it seemed to
give him pain by reminding him of his loss, and he was so strange and
forlorn just at first, that we were glad to do what we could to make
him feel himself more at home.'

'Then you get on pretty well now?'

The reply was in chorus with variations--'Oh, excellently!'

'He is so entertaining,' said Charlotte.

'He sings so beautifully,' said Amabel.

'He is so right-minded,' said Mrs. Edmonstone.

'So very well informed,' said Laura.

Then it all began again.

'He plays chess so well,' said Amy.

'Bustle is such a dear dog,' said Charlotte.

'He is so attentive to Charlie,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, going into the
drawing-room to her son.

'Papa says he will make up for the faults of all his ancestors,' said