the brilliant and distinguished circle will soon do that.
    Mrs. Rouncewell is in attendance, and receives Sir Leicester's customary
shake of the hand with a profound curtsey.
    »How do you do, Mrs. Rouncewell? I am glad to see you.«
    »I hope I have the honour of welcoming you in good health, Sir Leicester?«
    »In excellent health, Mrs. Rouncewell.«
    »My Lady is looking charmingly well,« says Mrs. Rouncewell, with another
curtsey.
    My Lady signifies, without profuse expenditure of words, that she is as
wearily well as she can hope to be.
    But Rosa is in the distance, behind the housekeeper; and my Lady, who has
not subdued the quickness of her observation, whatever else she may have
conquered, asks:
    »Who is that girl?«
    »A young scholar of mine, my Lady. Rosa.«
    »Come here, Rosa!« Lady Dedlock beckons her, with even an appearance of
interest. »Why, do you know how pretty you are, child?« she says, touching her
shoulder with her two forefingers.
    Rosa, very much abashed, says, »No, if you please, my Lady!« and glances up,
and glances down, and don't know where to look, but looks all the prettier.
    »How old are you?«
    »Nineteen, my Lady.«
    »Nineteen,« repeats my Lady thoughtfully. »Take care they don't spoil you by
flattery.«
    »Yes, my Lady.«
    My Lady taps her dimpled cheek with the same delicate gloved fingers, and
goes on to the foot of the oak staircase, where Sir Leicester pauses for her as
her knightly escort. A staring old Dedlock in a panel, as large as life and as
dull, looks as if he didn't know what to make of it - which was probably his
general state of mind in the days of Queen Elizabeth.
    That evening, in the housekeeper's room, Rosa can do nothing but murmur Lady
Dedlock's praises. She is so affable, so graceful, so beautiful, so elegant; has
such a sweet voice and such a thrilling touch, that Rosa can feel it yet! Mrs.
Rouncewell confirms all this, not without personal pride, reserving only the one
point of affability. Mrs. Rouncewell is not quite sure as to that. Heaven forbid
that she should say a syllable in dispraise of any member of that excellent
family; above all, of my Lady, whom the whole world admires; but