"What have you to say against him? I thought he was a favorite of yours!"
"So he is; but I'm not blind to his faults——."
"His faults! What are they?"
"He is selfish, for one thing——."
"Selfish. He would give away his last penny——."
"I dare say; he hates coppers——."
"Would go to the end of the earth to save a friend. Is truth itself. And where is there a braver man than Yorke Auchester?"
Her voice softened and faltered as she spoke his name.
"Or a more foolish and infatuated girl than Eleanor Dallas," said her aunt. "There!" and she stroked the golden head which Eleanor had let fall on her hands; "you can't help it, I suppose, and we must make the best of it. I'll see that he has what he likes for luncheon. Thank Heaven, if we know nothing more about men, we know the nearest way to their hearts."
Lady Eleanor put out her hand to stop her aunt for a moment.