“No; my sister is not come.”

“Lady Clavering is not in town this Spring,” said the captain.

“Ah, not in town!  Then I do pity her.  There is only de one place to live in, and that is London, for April, May, and June.  Lady Clavering is not coming to London?”

“Her little boy isn’t quite the thing,” said the captain.

“Not quite de ting?” said the Franco-Pole in an inquiring voice, not exactly understanding the gentleman’s language.

“My little nephew is ill, and my sister does not think it wise to bring him to London.”

“Ah; that is a pity.  And Sir Oo?  Sir Oo is in London?”

“Yes,” said the captain; “my brother has been up some time.”

“And his lady left alone in the country?  Poor lady!  But your English ladies like the country.  They are fond of the fields and the daisies.  So they say; but I think often they lie.  Me; I like the houses, and the people, and the pave.  The fields are damp, and I love not rheumatism at all.”  Then the little woman shrugged her shoulders and shook herself.  “Tell us the truth, Julie; which do you like best, the town or the country?”

“Whichever I’m not in, I think.”

“Ah, just so.  Whichever you are not in at present.  That is because you are still idle.  You have not settled yourself!” At this reference to the possibility of Lady Ongar settling herself, Captain Clavering pricked up his ears, and listened eagerly for what might come next.  He only knew of one way in which a young woman without a husband could settle herself.  “You must wait, my dear, a little longer, just a little longer, till the time of your trouble has passed by.”

“Don’t talk such nonsense, Sophie,” said the countess.

“Ah, my dear, it is no nonsense.  I am always telling her, Captain Clavering, that she must go through this black, troublesome time as quick as she can; and then nobody will enjoy the town so much as de rich and beautiful Lady Ongar.  Is it not so, Captain Clavering?”

Archie thought that the time had now come for him to say something pretty, so that his love might begin to know that he was there.  “By George, yes, there’ll be nobody so much admired when she comes out again.  There never was anybody so much admired before—­before—­that is, when you were Julia Brabazon, you know; and I shouldn’t wonder if you didn’t come out quite as strong as ever.”

“As strong!” said the Franco-Pole.  “A woman that has been married is always more admired than a meess.”

“Sophie, might I ask you and Captain Clavering to be a little less personal?”