“Yes, and I say you ought to. If they had only left me alone and told me nothing about it, it would have mattered much less. But that nasty Mr. Lightwood feels it his duty, as he says, to write and tell me what is in reserve for me, and then I am obliged to get rid of George Sampson.”

Here, Lavinia, rising to the surface with the last draughtman rescued, interposed, “You never cared for George Sampson, Bella.”

“And did I say I did, miss?” Then, pouting again, with the curls in her mouth; “George Sampson was very fond of me, and admired me very much, and put up with everything I did to him.”

“You were rude enough to him,” Lavinia again interposed.

“And did I say I wasn’t, miss? I am not setting up to be sentimental about George Sampson. I only say George Sampson was better than nothing.”