it is possible he will behave even better."

"Better--better," repeated her sister. "My dear child,
what is your point of view?"

"How do you mean--my point of view?"

"Don't you care for Lord Lambeth--a little?"

This time Bessie Alden was displeased; she slowly got up
from the table, turning her face away from her sister.
"You will oblige me by not talking so," she said.

Mrs. Westgate sat watching her for some moments as she moved
slowly about the room and went and stood at the window.
"I will write to him this afternoon," she said at last.

"Do as you please!" Bessie answered; and presently she turned round.
"I am not afraid to say that I like Lord Lambeth. I like him very much."

"He is not clever," Mrs. Westgate declared.

"Well, there have been clever people whom I have disliked,"
said Bessie Alden; "so that I suppose I may like a stupid one.
Besides, Lord Lambeth is not stupid."

"Not so stupid as he looks!" exclaimed her sister, smiling.

"If I were in love with Lord Lambeth, as you said just now,
it would be bad policy on your part to abuse him."