still less to her pretty mother whom she protected with a half proud,
half jealous fondness. How could the man presume to call her by that
foolish name? However, that single effusion had exhausted Mark's
powers of cordiality, or else Nuttie's stiffness froze him. They
were all embarrassed, and had reason to be grateful to Lady
Kirkaldy's practised powers as a diplomate's wife. She made the
most of Mrs. Egremont's shy spasmodic inquiries, and Mark's jerks of
information, such as that they were all living at Bridgefield
Egremont, now, that his sister May was very like his new cousin, that
Blanche was come out and was very like his mother, etc. etc. Every
one was more at ease when Lady Kirkaldy carried the conversation off
to yesterday's entertainment, hoping no one had been overtired, and
the like. Mrs. Egremont lighted up a little and began telling some
of the expressions of delight she had heard, and in the midst,
Nuttie, waking from her trance of stiff displeasure, came plump in
with 'Oh! and there's a water-soldier, a real Stratiotes aculeatus in
your lake. May we get it? Mr. Dutton didn't think we ought, but it
would be such a prize!'

'Ursula means a rare water-plant,' said Mrs. Egremont gently, seeing
that Lady Kirkaldy had no notion of the treasure she possessed. 'She
and some of her friends are very eager botanists.'

'I am sure you may,' said the lady, amused.

'Thank you! Then, O mother! Miss Mary and I will go. And we'll
wait till after office hours, and then Gerard Godfrey can come and
fish it out for us! Oh, thank you. He wants the pattern of the
Abbot's cross for an illumination, and he can get some ferns for the
church.'