“Ah! that’s Stumfold’s riddle. You must ask Mr Stumfold, and he won’t tell you till next week. But some of the ladies will be sure to find it out before then. Have you come to settle yourself altogether at Littlebath, Miss Mackenzie?”

This question he asked very abruptly, but he had a way of looking at her when he asked a question, which made it impossible for her to avoid an answer.

“I suppose I shall stay here for some considerable time.”

“Do, do,” said he with energy. “Do; come and live among us, and be one of us; come and partake with us at the feast which we are making ready; come and eat of our crusts, and dip with us in the same dish; come and be of our flock, and go with us into the pleasant pastures, among the lanes and green hedges which appertain to the farm of the Lord. Come and walk with us through the Sabbath cornfields, and pluck the ears when you are a-hungered, disregarding the broad phylacteries. Come and sing with us songs of a joyful heart, and let us be glad together. What better can you do, Miss Mackenzie? I don’t believe there is a more healthy place in the world than Littlebath, and, considering that the place is fashionable, things are really very reasonable.”

He was rapid in his utterance, and so full of energy, that Miss Mackenzie did not quite follow him in his quick transitions. She hardly understood whether he was advising her to take up an abode in a terrestrial Eden or a celestial Paradise; but she presumed that he meant to be civil, so she thanked him and said she thought she would. It was a thousand pities that he should squint so frightfully, as in all other respects he was a good-looking man. Just at this moment there seemed to be a sudden breaking up of the party.

“We are all going away,” said Mr Maguire. “We always do when Mrs Stumfold gets up from her seat. She does it when she sees that her father is nodding his head. You must let me out, because I’ve got to say a prayer. By-the-bye, you’ll allow me to walk home with you, I hope. I shall be so happy to be useful.”

Miss Mackenzie told him that the fly was coming for her, and then he scrambled away into the middle of the room.

“We always walk home from these parties,” said Miss Baker, who had, however, on this occasion, consented to be taken away by Miss Mackenzie in the fly. “It makes it come so much cheaper, you know.”

“Of course it does; and it’s quite as nice if everybody does it. But you don’t walk going there?”

“Not generally,” said Miss Baker; “but there are some of them who do that. Miss Trotter always walks both ways, if it’s ever so wet.” Then there were a few words said about Miss Trotter which were not altogether good-natured.