 smiles no mask,
heard, »Is it not impossible to suppose such a thing?« A hush ensued - the
Countess passed.
    In the afternoon, the Jocelyns, William Harvey, and Drummond met together to
consult about arrangeing the dispute; and deputations went to Laxley and to
Evan. The former demanded an apology for certain expressions that day; and an
equivalent to an admission that Mr. Harrington had said, in Fallowfield, that he
was not a gentleman, in order to escape the consequences. All the Jocelyns
laughed at his tenacity, and gentleman began to be bandied about in ridicule of
the arrogant lean-headed adolescent. Evan was placable enough, but dogged; he
declined to make any admission, though within himself he admitted that his
antagonist was not in the position of an impostor; which he for one honest word
among them would be exposed as being, and which a simple exercise of resolution
to fly the place would save him from being further.
    Lady Jocelyn enjoyed the fun, and still more the serious way in which her
relatives regarded it.
    »This comes of Rose having friends, Emily,« said Mrs. Shorne.
    There would have been a dispute to arrange between Lady Jocelyn and Mrs.
Shorne, had not her ladyship been so firmly established in her phlegmatic
philosophy. She said: »Quelle enfantillage! I dare say Rose was at the bottom of
it: she can settle it best. Defer the encounter between the boys until they see
they are in the form of donkeys. They will; and then they 'll run on together,
as long as their goddess permits.«
    »Indeed, Emily,« said Mrs. Shorne, »I desire you, by all possible means, to
keep the occurrence secret from Rose. She ought not to hear of it.«
    »No; I dare say she ought not,« returned Lady Jocelyn; »but I wager you she
does. You can teach her to pretend not to, if you like. Ecce signum.«
    Her ladyship pointed through the library window at Rose, who was walking
with Laxley, and showing him her pearly teeth in return for one of his jokes: an
exchange so manifestly unfair, that Lady Jocelyn's womanhood, indifferent as she
was, could not but feel that Rose had an object in view; which was true, for she
was flattering Laxley into a consent to meet Evan half way.
    The ladies murmured and hummed of these proceedings, and of Rose's
familiarity with Mr. Harrington; and the Countess in trepidation took Evan to
herself, and spoke to
