g awhile in maiden meditation, turned to the piano and jingled a melody from 'The Mi

at at the Jubilee to someb

going with?

he girl replie

he

s in the Str

Beatrice, dropping her paper, looked fixedly at the girl's

lly getting?' she i

ear. "Oh where, oh where

s. Peachey, 'that his g

her two had pursued culture at a still more pretentious institute until they were eighteen. All could 'play the piano;' all declared-and believed-that they 'knew French.' Beatrice had 'done' Political Economy; Fanny had 'been through' Inorganic Chemistry and Botany. The truth was, of course, that their minds, characters, prop

ly, Beatrice observed, w

thing out of an old screw like Lord,

lf, Fanny,' said Mrs. Peachey. 'Why, he

rned twe

laughed s

a little. 'Who said I was going to marry him? I'm in no particu

d Beatrice thoughtfully. 'I dare say he'll leave a tidy handfu

claimed Ada. 'Won't she

aside. 'The piano business isn't a bad line. I sho

t of Horace?' asked Ada of F

now much, tha

now all about old Lord,' Ada proceeded. 'He's a regular old tyrant. Why, you've only to look at him. And he thinks no sma

nviting their comment on thi

y does,' said Fanny,

ts worse as she gets older. I shall never invite her again;

ed Beatrice, in a tone of

y answered

e Jubilee to pick

ng to the Jubilee at all. At least she says she

marry her,' Ada remar

?' came from

Cre

r of her sisters; she, the while, touched her upper lip w

anny asked o

total drink,' said Beatrice. 'Ha

know,' answe

o get round

ckle from Mrs. Peachey, covered the rest of t

ots! What'

not

ows me pretty well. He'll make a fool of himself when he marries; I've told him so, and he as good as said

Nancy Lord,' sa

just

f from the sofa,

people going to do? You needn't expect any

meet?' asked Fann

he question, yawned agai

Whoever it 15, they'll have to pay. Those seats

's crying could be heard, but it excited no remark. Presently the other two retired, to make themselves ready for going ou

meant to have her dinner at Gatti's or some such place;

nt that we've no dinner at home? H

hook he

away. The guv'nor expects hi

laughed he

soon as ever such a thing was mentioned; I know he would. There's something I have had in my mind for a long time. Suppose I could s

confessed curiosit

Miss French. 'We've only to raise a little money on the

What sort o

ll make you a member of an association that supplies fashionable c

n't a swindle,' Fann

to say: Take a ten-pound share, and you shall have a big interest on it

it be

people who would help to set the thing going. But we must

se I lose

little. There are thousands and thousands of them, and most of them'-she lowered her voice-'know as much about cut and material as they do about stockbroking. Do you twig? People like Mrs. Middlemist and Mrs. Murch. They spend, most likely, thirty or forty pounds a year on their things, and we could dress th

sister. Forgetful of the time, Fanny found at length that it would be imposs