you, darling, exactly what the chances are, you must consent to hear the
long story, and when you have heard, give me your advice.'

Dorcas smiled, and only plucked a little flowery tendril from a plant
that hung in a natural festoon above her.

'I assure you, darling, I am serious; you must not look so incredulous;
and it is the more provoking, because I love you so. I think I have a
right to your advice, Dorkie.'

'Why don't you ask Rachel, she's cleverer than I, and you are more in the
habit of consulting her?'

'Now, Dorkie is going to talk her wicked nonsense over again, as if I had
never answered it. What about Radie? I do assure you, so far from taking
her advice, and thinking her an oracle, as you suppose, I believe her in
some respects very little removed from a fool.'

'I think her very clever, on the contrary,' said Dorcas, enigmatically.

'Well, she is clever in some respects; she is gay, at least she used to
be, before she fell into that transcendental parson's hands--I mean poor
dear William Wylder; and she can be amusing, and talks very well, but she
has no sense--she is utterly Quixotic--she is no more capable of advising
than a child.'

'I should not have fancied that, although you say so, Stanley.' she
answered carelessly, adding a geranium to her bouquet.

'You are thinking, I know, because you have seen us once or twice talking