"Oh, never mind that, but, Fanny, you must not give way to those
children too much; they will be always-- Hark! was that the door-
bell?"

It was, and the visitor was announced as "Mr. Touchett;" a small,
dark, thin young clergyman he was, of a nervous manner, which, growing
more nervous as he shook hands with Rachel, became abrupt and
hesitating.

"My call is--is early, Lady Temple; but I always pay my respects at
once to any new parishioner--resident, I mean--in case I can be of
any service."

"Thank you, I am very much obliged," said Fanny, with a sweet,
gracious smile and manner that would have made him more at ease at
once, if Rachel had not added, "My cousin is quite at home here,
Mr. Touchett."

"Oh yes," he said, "so--so I understood."

"I know no place in England so well; it is quite a home to me, so
beautiful it is," continued Fanny.

"And you see great changes here."

"Changes so much for the better," said Fanny, smiling her winning
smile again.

"One always expects more from improvements than they effect," put
in Rachel, severely.