"Something to do?"

"Some place or other; some business."

"Hasn't he got any?" said Catherine, who had never heard of a young
man--of the upper class--in this situation.

"No; he's looking round. But he can't find anything."

"I am very sorry," Catherine permitted herself to observe.

"Oh, he doesn't mind," said young Townsend. "He takes it easy--he
isn't in a hurry. He is very particular."

Catherine thought he naturally would be, and gave herself up for some
moments to the contemplation of this idea, in several of its
bearings.

"Won't his father take him into his business--his office?" she at
last inquired.

"He hasn't got any father--he has only got a sister. Your sister
can't help you much."

It seemed to Catherine that if she were his sister she would disprove
this axiom. "Is she--is she pleasant?" she asked in a moment.

"I don't know--I believe she's very respectable," said young
Townsend. And then he looked across to his cousin and began to
laugh. "Look here, we are talking about you," he added.