“How do you know a bore is a pleasure to Mr. Dodd?”

“Mr. Dodd is a new acquaintance of yours, aunt, but I have had opportunities of observing his character, and I assure you all this pity is wasted.”

“Why, Lucy, what did you say to Arthur just now. You are contradicting yourself.”

“What a love of opposition I must have. Are you not tired of in-doors? Shall we go into the village?”

“No; I exhausted the village yesterday.”

“The garden?”

“No.”

“Well, then, suppose we sketch the church together. There is a good light.”

“No. Let us go on the downs, Lucy.”

“Why, aunt, it—it is a long walk.”