"Is she young?" asked Mary.

"Tristram does not say," replied Lady Tancred, "only that she is
beautiful."

"We are so surprised," both girls gasped together.

"Yes, it is unexpected, certainly," agreed their mother, "but Tristram
has judgment; he is not likely to have chosen any one of whom I should
disapprove. You must be ready to call with me, directly after lunch.
Tristram is coming to breakfast, so you can have yours now--in your
room. I must talk to him."

And the girls, who were dying to ask a hundred thousand questions, felt
that they were dismissed, and, kissing their dignified parent, they
retired to their own large, back room, which they shared, in common
with all their pleasures and little griefs, together.

"Isn't it too wonderful, Em?" Mary said, when they were back there, both
curled up in the former's bed waiting for their breakfast. "One can see
Mother is very much moved; she was so stern. I thought Tristram was
devoted to Laura Highford, did not you?"

"Oh! he has been sick of that for ages and ages. She nags at him--she is
a cat anyway and I never could understand it, could you, Mary?"

"Men have to be like that," said Mary, wisely, "they must have some one,
I mean, to play with, and they are afraid of girls."

"How I hope she will like us, don't you?" Emily said. "Mr. Markrute is