How strange--how very strange it seems to me!' she murmured.
'My mother curtseyed to you and your father last Sunday,' said Stephen, with a pained smile at the thought of the incongruity.

'And your papa said to her, "I am glad to see you so regular at church, JANE."' 'I remember it, but I have never spoken to her.

We have only been here eighteen months, and the parish is so large.' 'Contrast with this,' said Stephen, with a miserable laugh, 'your father's belief in my "blue blood," which is still prevalent in his mind.

The first night I came, he insisted upon proving my descent from one of the most ancient west-county families, on account of my second Christian name; when the truth is, it was given me because my grandfather was assistant gardener in the Fitzmaurice-Smith family for thirty years.

Having seen your face, my darling, I had not heart to contradict him, and tell him what would have cut me off from a friendly knowledge of you.' She sighed deeply.