And she did not even have the Misses McKeown and Lewis come visit for instruction and gossip! For some kind benefactor that wished to remain anonymous, though Zipsie suspected 'twas Meg Knowles, had very kindly sent 'em for a few weeks to the seaside at Weymouth to recruit their health.

So while it might as a general thing, she felt, be extremely pleasant not to be constantly overwhelmed by Parry-Lloyds, it was most exceeding companionable to have 'em for an afternoon or so at a time.

There was Brump, conveying all sorts of messages from Rettie about what she had found helpful when she was in a like condition to Zipsie, very kind indeed. And Ollie and Folly and Georgie, that had not previously made any great note of it, exclaiming upon her music-room and fine piano-forte, and when were the Rondegates going to give their own music parties?

Zipsie snorted and said, let 'em wait until something like Society was returned to Town!

Lotty and Gianna complaining that Cecil was not there –

La, my dear little piglets, he may not be here with a pocketful of sweetmeats for you, but there will be a very fine tea!

She had been in some concern about how the rehearsal would go, being the first time that Ollie had been present to sing his part, but it seemed that he had, at least, been practising while he was in Heggleton and not entirely wasting his substance in riotous living.

It was a slight enough thing – a Chicken Cantata, inspired by Lady Samuels’ fine works on poultry – but she fancied she had made some telling effects – the girls’ Cluck-Cluck-Cheep-Cheep duet – the trio of roosters trying to outdo one another in crowing – the chorus of fox in the henhouse! fox in the henhouse! And that Mama would like it.

Brump murmured in her ear, as the rehearsal was over and she urged them into the drawing-room for tea, that he hoped she was not overdoing, and she assured him that she was spending a deal of her time with her feet up, and taking gentle walks in the square gardens. He grinned, remarking that Mama had urged him to this concern, but he did not remember her being one of those ladies that collapses upon a sopha?

Nor do I, Zipsie agreed.

She had desired a lavish tea to be laid on, to sustain 'em after their efforts, and had had the cook establish diplomatic relations with Miriam in the Grigsons’ kitchen to obtain her receipt for unparalleled lemon cake to it.

This went over very well! There was quite enough that even Georgie had to concede that he could not manage another bite. There were even enough in the way of remains that they might be parcelled up as a treat for little Danvie, that was still not quite old enough or brought on sufficiently to take part in these birthday performances but showed promise of a very fine treble.

Not a great deal of family news – Papa in hopes that there might be somewhat in the way of cricket at Hembleby Hall once all this election to-do was over – Auntie Dodo and Uncle Casimir gone to Scarborough, Doctor Ferraby considers it very sanitive –

Brump began to persuade the younger ones that 'twas entirely time for 'em to be going home, to a deal of groaning – but we want to explore the gardens! – and finally achieved getting all but Ollie out of the house.

Zipsie, after suitable farewell kisses and embraces, flopped down upon the sopha. La, I daresay 'tis my condition makes me find 'em so tiring –

Ollie gave her a small grin and said, might also be that she was no longer used to 'em? Found that, a little, just after these few weeks at Heggleton –

Zipsie looked at him. I suppose, she said, that you linger somewhat deliberate –

Ollie sighed. Do you hear from Thea? – how is she?

Zipsie raised her eyebrows. Fie, was you not making suit to an actress in Heggleton? Thought you had found some new lady for your heart –

Ollie plumped down into an easy chair. A flirtation I will confess to – had to conduct myself so very careful and proper among the young women of Heggleton society –

Zipsie’s notorious honking laugh burst forth. Oh, indeed, one must quite imagine! A most desirable swain.

– Miss Dalrymple a very charming young woman and dedicated to her profession and furthermore an old acquaintance – you remember the Richardsons? That came to the Raxdell House parties?

She remembered the Raxdell House parties – so much less stuffy than so many of the others they had been obliged to attend – such much more interesting company – why, 'twas there she had first met Lydy Marshall! –

Oh indeed, Mama and Auntie Dodo have been making a fuss. Has she not sermonized you yet?

I have that happy anticipation! Ollie groaned. But, what of Thea?

Zipsie sighed. Has been down at Pockinford Hall this age and one supposes Dumpling Dora keeps a sharp eye upon her correspondence to ensure that she is not writing to Sister Linnet or the Reverend Professor Pusey &C, that must put a constraint upon her pen – it puts a considerable constraint upon mine when I think of writing to her.

She wondered, looking at Ollie – that favoured the Parry-Lloyd side of the family, one did not wonder that he had been somewhat of a cynosure amongst the young ladies of Heggleton – whether, for all this yearning, he was like to make Thea happy? Now she was a married woman, she saw that romantic devotion was all very pretty, but a comfortable friendship was a deal more answerable for working days.

Mayhap she would think differently did she not have her music?

At length Ollie departed, after further expatiation upon Thea’s merits and his fears that the Pockinfords designed a match to some Evangelical lord of suitable station. He was by no means confident that that pietistic scoundrel Fendersham would not renew his suit, for one heard that, even was bigamy proved upon O’Neill, the Wauderkell was contemplating taking the veil –

Zipsie snorted. 'Tis rather too like one of her tales – a lady that has been sorely deceived by some plausible wretch – goes seek the consolations of religion – but then some antient deserving suitor returns from the wars, or prospecting for gold or some such and she observes the worth of a true heart –

Ollie made sounds indicative of nausea.

Quite so. One hears that there is some Irish cousin in Town, with news of some former suitor in Cork, a widower that does not forget –

Fie, Zipsie, mayhap you should go compose operas?

Well, one may see possibilities! – but I do not think that Thea will consider that obeying the Fifth Commandment would lead her as far as marrying Fendersham because her father desired it.

It was agreeable to be alone once more and to recline upon the sopha in her small parlour idly scanning the pages of The Ladies’ What-Not.

She had half-drifted into a doze when the door opened and came in her husband. She started up. Cecil! I was not in any anticipation you might arrive the e’en – or only very late. Is Mr Davison with you?

He came over, took her hands and kissed her. Sallington offered him the hospitality of Mulcaster House – he was in some mind to go straight to Oxford but that is such a tiresome journey on top of all the traveling we have already done –

Why, do you send him a note to invite him to breakfast – no, I daresay luncheon would be better – am still a little qualmish of a morn –

Cecil looked down at her. Really, Zipsie?

She looked up at him. I have been working on the ghazals, and am all eagerness to discuss 'em with him.

He sat down beside her. That is above and beyond civility and kindness, he said, putting an arm around her.

Poo – I hope I may consider him a friend still –

He kissed her. I am pleased, he went on, to change the subject, that I find you in such blooming health – was in a little concern.

She grinned. Why, I am pleased that I look so – have had a somewhat exhausting day of rehearsing for Mama’s birthday cantata – o, we come on, especially now that Ollie has returned to Town – and talking of Mama, I feel I must forewarn you –

Forewarn me?

Zipsie smirked. Now that she has got me off her hands, and 'twill be some years before Lotty makes her debut, here is Mama takes a notion that 'tis her positive duty to give my cousins Edith and Amy a London Season or so.

I daresay I was introduced to 'em at the wedding but I fear I do not recollect –

They are Auntie Cissie’s girls – the Fairleigh-Merretts – by all reports have been quite devastating Herefordshire and the adjacent parts – very well-looking, Uncle Eddie is Nuttenford’s brother – oh, but you may not know the story, that is very pretty though some considered it quite the scandal –

Tell on!

Sir Charles Fairleigh had been devoted to Lady Nuttenford – that was married to the Earl that was eat by a bear in the Americas and an invalid – since boyhood, and when the news came of her widowhood, quite immediate went propose, so that he might take care of her. And since they have no offspring due to her state, made Eddie his heir. That had been a little wild, but sobered down, and married Auntie Cissie, and took to farming –

Very pretty! He kissed her again, and remarked that he should go put himself a little more in order before they went to dine.

But Mama’s hope is, that do we hold music-parties, 'twill offer opportunity for 'em to display their talents for singing, that are considerable.

Why, one can have no objection at all – quite a done thing.

How very amiable a spouse was Cecil.