all zest, and in the midst others came in—-a barrister and his wife
to say good-bye before the circuit, a professor with a ticket for the
gallery at a scientific dinner, two medical students, who had been
made free of the house because they were nice lads with no available
friends in town.

It was all over by half-past ten, and the trio were alone together.
"How amusing Mr. Leslie is!" said the young Mrs. Brownlow. "He knows
how describe as few people do."

"Did you see Janet listening to him," said her grandmother, "with her
brows pulled down and her eyes sparkling out under them, wanting to
devour every word?"

"Yes," returned the Doctor, "I saw it, and I longed to souse that
black head of hers with salt water. I don't like brains to grow to
the contempt of healthful play."

"People never know when they are well off! I wonder what you would
have said if you had had a lot of stupid dolts, boys always being
plucked, &c."

"Don't plume yourself too soon, Mother Carey; only one chick has gone
through the first ordeal."

"And if Allen did, Bobus will."

"Allen is quite as clever as Bobus, granny, if—-" eagerly said the
mother.