"Well; I am not going to flatter you yet. Only as I think our Flo is
without exception the most perfect girl I ever saw, I don't suppose she
would be guilty of making a bad choice. Cissy, dear, this is Mr.
Clavering."

Cissy got up from her chair, and came up to him. "Mamma says I am to
love you very much," said Cissy, putting up her face to be kissed.

"But I did not tell you to say I had told you," said Mrs. Burton,
laughing.

"And I will love you very much," said Harry, taking her up in his arms.

"But not so much as Aunt Florence--will you?"

They all knew it. It was clear to him that everybody connected with the
Burtons had been told of the engagement, and that they all spoke of it
openly, as they did of any other everyday family occurrence. There was
not much reticence among the Burtons. He could not but feel this, though
now, at the present moment, he was disposed to think specially well of
the family because Mrs. Burton and her children were so nice.

"And this is another daughter?"

"Yes; another future niece, Mr. Clavering. But I suppose I may call you
Harry; may I not? My name is Cecilia. Yes, that is Miss Pert."

"I'm not Miss Pert," said the little soft round ball of a girl from the
chair. "I'm Sophy Burton. Oh, you musn't tittle."