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 such as only the satisfaction of an emotional nature can give. It was therefore no welcome announcement which her new friend brought Lesbia one morning as she met her near the park gate.

‘Lesbie, my pet, I was trotting over to you with bad news. My fidgety mother and your mischievous uncle have been plotting against our peace.’

‘Uncle Spines! How, Fri?’

‘She’s been persuading him that he wastes his time and talents rusticating here,—wants him to go to town for the summer season and lecture to audiences worthy of him, while you will see something of that blessed sphere, London society.’

‘I suspect your mother thinks more of London society converting me than of my uncle converting it. It will be a bore to give up our sweet nooks and bowers to suffocate in London; still, if we can do any useful work there, I suppose one ought to make the sacrifice.’

‘You and your uncle may do useful work, but what can I do, Lesbie?’ answered Friga, somewhat sulkily. ‘Snubbing everybody right and left is about the only congenial occupation I have in London.’

‘But it needs to be done with discrimination, Fri. Suppose you had snubbed me now?’

‘That would have been a mistake, love; but I didn’t meet you in London.’

‘But you might have. There are as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it.’

‘I doubt that, Lesbie; I don’t believe there are any fish like you in the sea.’

‘Bless you, yes, there are plenty, only they don’t come out. But I wonder Uncle Spines has not told me of this project.’

Mr Bristley did so, however, the same day. Negotiations