'So you sent Madame Tanneguy home to prevent you from getting into Wilmet's shoes at Miss Pearson's?'
'I should hope I was fit for something more than that!'
'Well done, Bob!'
'I didn't mean—' said Robina, rather distressed, 'but you see I have had a much better education than ever Wilmet could get, and have gone on longer with it; and I can go in for things that girls here would not care to learn; so, as I am not wanted to keep house with Wilmet, it would be just waste for me to come and do like her—poked up in this corner.'
'Ah! you've had a taste of the world,' said Lance, speaking in jest; but Robina, recollecting how he had crushed any ambition of his own, and who did veritably feel that though home was home, Bexley was dull and narrow, turned round with moist eyes.
'O Lance, I hope it is not that! You know I have been brought up to go out, and it seems my work and duty; but I think it is a great deal more honourable to stay here because one is wanted.'
'Because one can't help it,' said Lance, pulling her hair and smiling. 'Have you learnt to make speeches in France, Bob?'
'No. But indeed, Lance, I do want to know if you do never get tired of things now?'
'Oh! I've no right; I'm not one of the highly educated ones!' said Lance, in a spirit of teasing.
'Now, Lance, don't punish me, when I really want to know.'