Rose and Agnes, having now reduced her to the latter state, proceeded cautiously to give her her head again.

They promised her two or three expeditions and one picnic at least; they said they would do their best; they promised they would report what they saw and be very discreet, both feeling the comedy of Mrs.Thornburgh as the advocate of discretion; and then they departed to their early dinner, leaving the vicar's wife decidedly less self-confident than they found her.
'The first matrimonial excitement of the family,' cried Agnes, as they walked home.

'So far no one can say the Miss Leyburns have been besieged!' 'It will be all moonshine,' Rose replied, decisively.

'Mr.Elsmere may lose his heart; we may aid and abet him; Catherine will live in the clouds for a few weeks, and come down from them at the end with the air of an angel, to give him his _coup de grace_.

As I said before--poor fellow!' Agnes made no answer.