Miss Darrell had been lecturing her, and that made her cross.' 'So I supposed,' was the prompt answer.

'Well, what did you think of the Dare-all,--as the vicar calls her sometimes?
is she not like a pleasant edition of Tupper's _Proverbial Philosophy_,--verbose and full of long sentences?
How many words did she coin to-night, do you think ?' There was a little scorn in the young man's voice.

Miss Darrell was evidently not a favourite in the vicarage, yet most people would have called her elegant and well-mannered, and, if she had no beauty, she was not bad-looking.

She was so exceedingly well made up, and her style of dress was so suitable to her face, that I was not surprised to hear afterwards from Lady Betty that many people thought her cousin Etta handsome.

Now when Mr.Tudor made this spiteful little speech I felt rather pleased, for my dislike to Miss Darrell had increased rather than diminished by the evening's experiences; under her smooth speeches there lurked an antagonistic spirit; something had prejudiced her against me even at our first meeting; I was convinced that she did not like me, and would not encourage my visit to Gladwyn.