Very lovely was Lady Kirkaldy's impression as she saw a slender
figure in a dark gray linen dress, and a face of refined, though not
intellectual, beauty and sweetness, under a large straw hat with a
good deal of white gauziness about it, and the curtsey was full of
natural grace.

'You do not know me,' said Lady Kirkaldy, taking her hand, 'but I am
aunt to some former pupils of yours, one of whom, Mark Egremont, is
very anxious to come and see you.'

'Mark! My dear little Mark,' and her face lighted up. 'How very
kind of him. But he is not little Mark now.'

'He is not a very big Mark either. Most of the Egremonts are small.
I see your daughter takes after them,' said Lady Kirkaldy, shaking
hands with Ursula, who looked at her in unmitigated amazement.

Alice faltered something about Lady Adelaide.

'My dear sister fell into a decline, and died while the three
children were still babies. Poor things, I believe they had a sad
time till their father married a Miss Condamine, who has been an
excellent stepmother to them. I have been to see them, but Mark was
not then at home, so he has come to me at Monks Horton. When will he
find you at home? Or may I bring him in at once. He was to meet me
at Micklethwayte.'

'I should like very much to see him,' was the answer. And Miss
Headworth was obliged to say something about her ladyship taking a
cup of tea. Lady Kirkaldy, knowing that Mark was on the watch, set