 curious on the subject of Princess's Place, and looked
all round it as she spoke - »with my brother, who has come home.«
    »He is better, I trust, my love,« faltered Miss Tox.
    »He is greatly better, thank you. Hem!«
    »My dear Louisa must be careful of that cough,« remarked Miss Tox.
    »It's nothing,« returned Mrs. Chick. »It's merely change of weather. We must
expect change.«
    »Of weather?« asked Miss Tox, in her simplicity.
    »Of everything,« returned Mrs. Chick. »Of course we must. It's a world of
change. Any one would surprise me very much, Lucretia, and would greatly alter
my opinion of their understanding, if they attempted to contradict or evade what
is so perfectly evident. Change!« exclaimed Mrs. Chick, with severe philosophy.
»Why, my gracious me, what is there that does not change! even the silkworm, who
I am sure might be supposed not to trouble itself about such subjects, changes
into all sorts of unexpected things continually.«
    »My Louisa,« said the mild Miss Tox, »is ever happy in her illustrations.«
    »You are so kind, Lucretia,« returned Mrs. Chick, a little softened, »as to
say so, and to think so, I believe. I hope neither of us may ever have any cause
to lessen our opinion of the other, Lucretia.«
    »I am sure of it,« returned Miss Tox.
    Mrs. Chick coughed as before, and drew lines on the carpet with the ivory
end of her parasol. Miss Tox, who had experience of her fair friend, and knew
that under the pressure of any slight fatigue or vexation she was prone to a
discursive kind of irritability, availed herself of the pause, to change the
subject.
    »Pardon me, my dear Louisa,« said Miss Tox, »but have I caught sight of the
manly form of Mr. Chick in the carriage?«
    »He is there,« said Mrs. Chick, »but pray leave him there. He has his
newspaper, and would be quite contented for the next two hours. Go on with your
flowers, Lucretia, and allow me to sit here and rest.«
    »My Louisa knows,« observed Miss Tox, »that between friends like ourselves,
any approach to ceremony would be out of the question. Therefore -« Therefore
Miss Tox finished the sentence, not
