‘Well, I hope Miss Lizzie will have enough of it,’ said Mrs. Hazleby; ‘it will open her papa’s eyes to all her conceit, if anything will.’

‘I am sure it is time,’ said Harriet; ’she thinks herself wiser than all the world, one cannot speak a word for her.’

‘O Harriet!’ said Lucy, looking up from her work with some indignation in her eyes.

‘I believe you think it all very grand, Lucy,’ said her mother; ’you care for nothing as long as you can dawdle about with Helen.  Pray did you go to this fine place?’

‘No, Mamma,’ said Lucy.

‘H—­m,’ said Mrs. Hazleby, rather disappointed at losing an opportunity of scolding her.

Anne had gone to write a letter in her mother’s room, whilst Elizabeth was busy.  She had just finished it, and was thinking of going to see whether anyone was ready to read in the school-room, when Rupert came in, and making a low bow, addressed her thus:  ’So, Miss Nancy, I congratulate you.’

‘What is the matter now?’ said Anne.

‘Pray, Anne,’ said he, ’did you ever experience the satisfaction of feeling how pleasant it is to see one’s name in print?’

‘You were very near having something like that pleasure yourself,’ said Anne; ’it was only your arrival on Friday that saved the expense of an advertisement at the head of a column in the Times—­

   “R.  M., return, return, return to your sorrowing friends."’

‘Pray be more speedy next time,’ said Rupert, ’for then I shall be even with you.’

’I am sure you have some wickedness in your head, or all your speeches would not begin with “Pray,"’ said Anne; ‘what do you mean?’

‘What I say,’ answered Rupert; ’I have just read Miss Merton’s name in the paper.’

‘Some other Miss Merton, you foolish boy!’ said Anne.

‘No, no, yourself, Anne Katherine Merton, daughter of Sir Edward,’ said Rupert.

‘My dear Rupert, you do not mean it!’ said Anne, somewhat alarmed.

‘I saw it with my eyes,’ said Rupert.

‘But where?’

‘In the Abbeychurch Reporter, or whatever you call it.’

‘Oh!’ said Anne, looking relieved, ’we are probably all there, as having been at the Consecration.’

’The company there present, are, I believe, honoured with due mention of Sir Edward Merton and family,’ said Rupert; ’but I am speaking of another part of the paper where Miss Merton is especially noted, alone in her glory.’

‘In what paper did you say, Rupert?’ said Lady Merton.

‘The Abbeychurch Reporter,’ said he.

‘Mr. Higgins’s paper!’ said Anne.  ’O Mamma, I see it all—­that horrible Mechanics’ Institute!’

‘Why, Anne,’ said her brother, ’I thought you would be charmed with your celebrity.’

‘But where have you seen it, Rupert?’ said Anne; ’poor Lizzie, has she heard it?’

’Mr. Walker came in just now in great dismay, to shew it to Mr. Woodbourne,’ said Rupert; ’and they had a very long discussion on the best means of contradicting it, to which I listened with gravity, quite heroic, I assure you, considering all things.  Then my uncle carried it off to shew it to his wife, and I came up to congratulate you.’