'"Ah, your daughter will have a splendid position at court one day, I doubt not, madam. The Earl of Desmond's ancient title and large estates must give him a good deal of political influence, even if he does not turn out, as I think he will, a man with a pretty strong character of his own."
'The Earl of Desmond still! But what could he have to do with me? And how, oh how, was I to have a splendid position at court through his means? I did not dare to ask, as one of you would have done; for to speak in the company of one's elders, without being spoken to, was a proceeding unthought of in those days. I could only glance from Sir Harry's to my mother's face, and then for the first time I noticed how sad and anxious it looked. Her eyes, too, had a red rim round them, as if she had been crying. What could be the reason?
'"That she may be good and happy, sir, is all I desire for her," replied she; "and that I trust she may be, in whatever position she is placed."
'"With such a mother, she cannot be otherwise than good," replied Sir Harry, with a little bow. "And as for happiness, she will have all that people covet most, to give it her,—rank, wealth, beauty."
'And here, I suppose, Sir Harry caught sight of me gazing at him with eyes rounded by astonishment; for he broke off what he was saying, to ask me if I had forgiven him yet for spoiling my ride, and whether I would do him the great favour of showing him the fox's brush I had told him about, etc. etc. He certainly was very good-natured, and treated me more like a woman than any one had ever done before. He asked me to take wine with him, and bowed with so much deference, that I felt quite shy and uncomfortable for a moment. He asked about all my plays and studies, seemed quite interested in hearing of the delights of going fishing with Oliver and Roger, in stories about the young hawks which Miles and I were bringing up between us, and in the brood of rabbits which belonged to us all. Then he wanted to know if I was fond of music; if I could sing or play or dance; and, for the first time in my life, I felt rather ashamed of being obliged to say no to all these questions.
'"But you would like to learn, would you not?" said Sir Harry when we arrived at this point in the conversation, putting another bunch of grapes on my plate as he spoke.
'"Yes; I think I should, if mamma would let me;" and I looked doubtfully in her direction. But it was my father who replied.
'"Liking has nothing to do with it. Frances will of course learn whatever is necessary for her future rank and station. There is plenty of time: the child is only ten years old, I believe."
'"Eleven in May," I could not help whispering though dreadfully frightened at my own boldness; and I suppose mamma thought I had gone quite far enough, for she rose to leave the room, signing to me to follow her; which I did willingly enough, eager to escape the displeasure which I felt sure I read in my father's eyes, and hoping that now at last I should hear the meaning of all the mysteries which had puzzled me that morning. Mamma looked very grave, as she took my hand and led me into that little room which your uncle now calls his "laboratory," I believe, and which smells of sulphur and gunpowder, and all kinds of dreadful things. It never smelt of anything worse than dried lavender and rose leaves in my time; for it was mamma's own sitting-room, where she heard me my lessons, gave orders to the servants, and did all kinds of things, which the present Lady Dalrymple would leave to her housekeeper. I began to think that the something, which I felt sure was going to be revealed to me, was some dreadful misfortune, when she kissed me, and said:
'"My little Frances is longing to know what we were all saying at dinner-time about her, is she not?"