‘No?’ said Louis, turning about his acquisition; ’I thought I knew the female that laid these eggs.  The proper name is, I fancy, Glacies Dynevorensis—­var.  Catharina—­perhaps—­’

Walter and Louisa had brought their mother to see the nest, the point of which she comprehended as little as they; and not understanding how much amusement was betokened by her nephew’s gravity, she protested that none of her party had devised it, nor even been privy to it, and that Mr. Dynevor must bear the blame, but he was very busy detaching the prizes from the tree, and hastily denied any concern with it.  Aunt Catharine was obliged to console Lady Conway, and enchant Louis by owning herself the sole culprit, with no aid but Miss Mercy’s.  Together they had disposed the nest in its right locality, as soon as the Earl’s absence was secure.

‘I had not courage for it before him,’ she laughed.  ’As for this fellow, I knew he would esteem it a compliment.’

‘As a tribute to his imagination?’ said Isabel, who, in her mood of benevolence, could be struck with the happy understanding between aunt and nephew revealed by such a joke, so received.

‘It would be a curious research,’ said Louis, ’whether more of these nidifications result from over-imagination or the want of it.’

‘Often from want of imagination, and no want of cowardice,’ said Isabel.

‘That sort of nest has not illuminated eggs like these,’ said Louis.  ’They are generally extremely full of gunpowder, and might be painted with a skull and crossbones.  I say, Clara, has Aunt Kitty considered the consequences?  She has sacrificed her ostrich eggs!  I can never part with these original productions of her genius.’

He exhibited his mare’s nest with his own gay bonhommie to all who were curious, and presently, when every one’s attention had been again recalled to the wonders which Isabel was distributing, and he had turned aside to dispose of his treasure, he heard a sound of soliloquy half aloud, ‘I wonder whether she has it!’ from Clara, who stood a little apart.

‘What?’ asked Louia.

‘My ivory clasp with the Madonna,’ said Clara.  ’Jem and I thought it the only thing worthy of Miss Conway.’

‘Hem!’ said Louis; ’it is not your fault, Clara; but it would be graceful to learn to receive a favour.’

‘A favour, but not a grand thing like this,’ said Clara, showing a beautiful little case of working implements.

‘Hardly worth, even intrinsically, your mother’s bracelet,’ said Louis.  ’But I am not going to talk treason to the family doctrine, though it is very inconvenient to your friends.’

‘Then you think we ought not to have done it?’

‘That depends on what I can’t decide.’

‘What’s that?’

‘Whether you give it out of love or out of pride.’

‘I think we gave it out of one, and excused it by the other.’

’Very satisfactory.  To reward you, here is something for you to do.  I shall never get at Aunt Kitty to-night.  I see the midshipman, young Brewster, will not relinquish her; so will you or will she administer this letter to the Lady of Eachalott?’