On his return home Walter found Julia marching swiftly and haughtily up and down upon the terrace of Clifford Hall, and he could not help admiring the haughty magnificence of her walk.  The reason soon appeared.  She was in a passion.  She was always tall, but now she seemed lofty, and to combine the supple panther with the erect peacock in her ireful march.  Such a fine woman as Julia really awes a man with her carriage at such a time.  The poor soul thinks he sees before him the indignation of the just; when very likely it is only what in a man would be called Petulance.

“Anything the matter, Miss Clifford?” said he, obsequiously.

“No, sir” (very stiffly).

“Can I be of any service?”

“No, you can not.”  And then, swifter than any weather-cock ever turned:  “You are a good creature:  why should I be rude to you?  I ought to be ashamed of myself.  It is that little wretch.”

“Not our friend Fitzroy?”

“Why, what other little wretch is there about?  We are all Grenadiers and May-poles in this house except him.  Well, let him go.  I dare say somebody else—­hum—­and Uncle Clifford has told me more than once I ought to look higher.  I couldn’t well look lower than five feet nothing.  Ha! ha! ha!  I told him so.”

“That was cruel.”

“Don’t scold me.  I won’t be lectured by any of you.  Of course it was, dear.  Poor little Percy.  Oh! oh! oh!”

And after all this thunder there was a little rain, by a law that governs
Atmosphere and Woman impartially.

Seeing her softened, and having his own reasons for wishing to keep Fitzroy to his duty, Walter begged leave to mediate, if possible, and asked if she would do him the honor to confide the grievance to him.

“Of course I will,” said Julia.  “He is angry with Colonel Clifford for not wishing him to stay here, and he is angry with me for not making Uncle Clifford invite him.  As if I could!  I should be ashamed to propose such a thing.  The truth is, he is a luxurious little fellow, and my society out-of-doors does not compensate him for the cookery at the Dun Cow.  There! let him go.”

“But I want him to stay.”

“Then that is very kind of you.”

“Isn’t it?” said Walter, slyly.  “And I must make him stay somehow.  Now tell me, isn’t he a little jealous?”

“A little jealous!  Why, he is eaten up with it; he is petrie de jalousie.”

“Then,” said Walter, timidly, and hesitating at every word, “you can’t be angry if I work on him a little.  Would there be any great harm if I were to say that nobody can see you without admiring you; that I have always respected his rights, but that if he abandons them—­”

Julia caught it in a moment.  She blushed, and laughed heartily.  “Oh, you good, sly Thing!” said she; “and it is the truth, for I am as proud as he is vain; and if he leaves me I will turn round that moment and make you in love with me.”