"Yes; but I think that his father was a Dane, and he married a Danish
lady."

"Indeed! Is she living?"

"Oh, no. She died a great many years ago. The old gentleman has only one
child left--a girl."

"What is her name?" asked someone idly, in a break of the general
conversation, so that everybody paused to listen to his reply.

"Stella--Stella Fregelius; a very unusual girl."

Then the conversation broke out again with renewed vigour, and all that
those at Morris's end of the table could catch were snatches such as:
"Wonderful eyes"; "Independent young person"; "Well read and musical";
"Oh, yes! poor as church mice, that's why he accepted my offer."

At this point the Doctor began a rather vehement argument with Mr.
Porson as to the advisability of countervailing duties to force foreign
nations to abandon the sugar bounties, and no more was heard of Mr.
Tomley and his plans.

On the whole, Mary enjoyed that dinner-party. Miss Layard, somewhat sore
after her first encounter, attempted to retaliate later.

But by this time Mary's argumentative energy had evaporated. Therefore,
adroitly appealing to Mr. Layard to take her part, she retired from the
fray till, seeing that it grew acrimonious, for this brother and sister