Betty Trevor

by Mrs George de Horne Vaizey (aka Jessie Mansergh)________________________________________________________________This book concerns a family where the children consist of a couple ofboys, and a few more than that of girls. They live in a Square inLondon, which bears the name of an existing London Square, but which isplaced, according to the story, in quite a different place to the realone. The children are fascinated by the occupants of the various otherhouses, some of whom they gradually get to know. 

The children grow up, the boys are away doing interesting things, andthe girls become interested in their own clothes and appearances. Thismay be just a male's view of the story, but it seems like it to me, forthere doesn't seem to be nearly as much life as you find in the sameauthor's Pixie books. Well, I suppose that's not true: there is asubtle undercurrent of old love affairs revived that runs right to thevery last page--and that is one of Mrs Vaizey's greatest skills. If youhaven't done so, do read the little biography we have written of her, asit will help you to understand her writing rather better than if youdon't. 

Still, you read the book, and see what you think. You may well bepleasantly surprised. ________________________________________________________________BETTY TREVOR

BY MRS GEORGE DE HORNE VAIZEY (aka JESSIE MANSERGH)

CHAPTER ONE. 

THE "PAMPERED PET. "

"There goes the `Pampered Pet' again! Got its little keeper with it, asusual. Why don't they lead her by a chain, and be done with it?"

Miles stood by the schoolroom window, hands jingling in pockets, as hesurveyed a prospect, sufficiently grey and drear to make any diversitydoubly welcome, and at his words there came the sound of a generalpushing-back of chairs, as the four other occupants of the room dashedforward to share in the view. 

They jostled each other with the scant courtesy which brothers andsisters are apt to show each other in early days; five big boys andgirls, ranging between the ages of eight and nineteen. Miles kept hiscentral position by reason of superior strength, a vigorous dig of hispointed elbow being enough to keep trespassers at a distance. Bettydarted before him and nimbly dropped on her knees, the twins stood oneither side of the window-sill, while poor Pam grumbled and fretted inthe background, dodging here and there to try all positions in turn, andfinding each as unsatisfactory as the last. 

The Square gardens looked grey and sodden with the desolation of autumnin a city, and the road facing the window was empty, except for twofemale figures--a lady, and a girl of sixteen, who were slowlyapproaching the corner. The lady was dressed in black, the girl wasnoticeably smart, in a pretty blue costume, with dainty boots on hertiny feet, and a fur cap worn at the fashionable angle on her goldenhead. 

"That's a new dress, --the fifth I've seen her in this month!" sighedBetty enviously. "Wearing it on an afternoon like this, too. The idea!Serve her right if it were soaked through!"

"Look at her mincing over the puddles! She'd rather go a mile out ofher way than get a splash on those precious boots. I'm sure by the lookof them that they pinch her toes! I am glad you girls don't makeninnies of yourselves by wearing such stupid things. "

"Can't! Feet too big!" mumbled Jill, each cheek bulging in turn withthe lump of toffee which she was mechanically moving from side to side, so as to lengthen the enjoyment as much as possible. 

"Can't! Too poor! Only four shillings to last out till the end of thequarter!" sighed Betty, dolorous again. 

"Boots! Boots! What boots? Let me see her boots. It's mean! Youwon't let me see a thing!" cried Pam, pushing her shaggy head roundMiles' elbow, and craning forward on the tip of her toes. "I say!She's grander than ever to-day, isn't she?"

"Look at the umbrella! About as thick as a lead pencil!" scoffed Jill, flattening her nose against the pane. "Aunt Amy had one like that whenshe came to stay, and I opened it, because mother says it spoils them tobe left squeezed up, and she was as mad as a hatter. She twisted at ita good ten minutes before she would take it out again. She'd never get_mine_ straight! I've carried things in it till the wires bulge outlike hoops. An umbrella is made for use; it's bosh pretending it's anornament. . .. They are going a toddle round the Square between theshowers for the benefit of the Pet's complexion. I'm glad I haven't gotone to bother about!"

"True for you!" agreed Miles, with brotherly candour. "You are as brownas a nigger, and the Pet is like a big wax-doll--yellow hair, blue eyes, pink cheeks, all complete. Not a bad-looking doll, either. I passedquite close to her one day, and she looked rattling. She'll be a jollypretty girl one of these days. "

"Oh, if you admire that type. Personally, I don't care for niminy-piminies. You never see her speaking, but I daresay if you poked her inthe right places she would bleat out `Mam-ma! Pa-pa!' . .. Now watch!"cried Betty dramatically. "When she gets to the corner, she will peerup at this window beneath her eyelashes, and mince worse than ever whenshe sees us watching. Don't shove so, Pam! You can see quite wellwhere you are. Now _look_! She's going to raise her head. "

The five heads pressed still more curiously against the pane, and fivepairs of eyes were fixed unblinkingly upon the young girl who wasdaintily picking her way round the corner of the Square. The fur capleft her face fully exposed to view, and, true to Betty's prophecy, asshe reached a certain point in the road she turned her head over hershoulder and shot a quick glance at the window overhead. Quicker thanlightning the pretty head went round again, and the pink cheeks grewcrimson at the sight of those five eager faces watching her everymovement. 

Jack and Jill burst into loud laughter, Betty's upper lip curledderisively, but Miles' thin face showed an answering flush of colour, and he backed into the room, exclaiming angrily--

"I say, this is too much of a good thing! I don't know what you allmean by swarming round me wherever I go! Why can't you leave a fellowalone? Can't I even look out of the window without having you all on myback? A nice effect it must have to see the whole place blocked up, asif we were staring at a Lord Mayor's show!"

Betty sat down by the table and took up the blouse on which she had beenworking for the last three months. The sleeves had been taken out andreplaced twice over, and the collar-band obstinately refused to comeright. By the time it was finished it would be hopelessly out of date, which Betty considered as one of the many contrary circumstances of lifewhich continually thwarted her good endeavours. 

"Don't worry yourself. She will enjoy being stared at!" she saidcoldly. "She knows we watch her coming in and out, and shows off allher little tricks for our benefit. She's the most conceited, stuck-up, affected little wretch I ever saw, without a thought in her head but herclothes, and her own importance. I wouldn't have anything to do withher for the world!"

"Jolly good thing then that you are never likely to get a chance! Herpeople will never trouble to call upon us; they are much too high andmighty. That's no reason, though, why you should be so down on the poorlittle soul. I should have thought that you would have felt sorry forher, cooped up with that old governess all her time, with not a soul tokeep her company! But girls are such cads--they never play fair. "

Miles strode out of the room in a fume, and Betty's lips compressedthemselves into a thin straight line, the meaning of which the othersknew full well. To incur Miles' displeasure was Betty's bitterestpunishment, and the "Pampered Pet" was not likely to fare any better ather hands in consequence of his denouncement. Jill beckoned furtivelyto Jack. There was no chance of any more fun in the schoolroom now thatMiles had departed, and Betty was in the sulks; it would be wise to goand disport themselves elsewhere. They left the room arm-in-arm, headsalmost touching, as they whispered and giggled together, the mostdevoted pair of twins that ever existed, and eight-year-old Pam leanther elbows on the table and stared fixedly at her big sister. 

Betty was seventeen, nearly grown-up, inasmuch as she had left school, and now took classes to complete her education. Her blue serge dresscame down to her ankles, and she made a gallant attempt to "do up" herhair in the style of the period. Mrs Trevor considered the style tooelaborate for such a young girl, but after all it did not much matterwhat was aimed at, since every morning someone exclaimed innocently, "You've done your hair a new way, Betty!" and was fully justified in theremark. One day Betty's ambition ran to curls and waves, and sheappeared at the breakfast-table with a fuzz worthy of a negress. Thenext day better judgment prevailed, when she brushed hard for tenminutes, and then pinned on a hair-net, with the result that she lookeda veritable little Puritan; and between these extremes ranged a varietyof effects, only possible of achievement to an amateur with noexperience, but boundless ambition. 

If you could have honestly pronounced Betty pretty, you would havesatisfied the deepest longing of her heart. She gazed in the glassevery morning, twisting her head from side to side, and decidingirrevocably that she was hideous, a fright, a perfect freak, while allthe time an obstinate little hope lingered that perhaps after all, inbecoming clothes, and when she was in a good temper, she might lookrather . .. Nice! Chestnut hair, such a pretty colour, but so little ofit that it would not "go" like other girls'; dark grey eyes with curlyblack lashes; an impertinent little nose, and a mouth just about twiceas big as those possessed by the ladies in mother's _Book of Beauty_downstairs. At the best she could only be "pretty" or a "sweet-lookinggirl, " and she pined to be beautiful and stately, and to reign as aqueen over the hearts of men. 

Poor Betty! Many a girl of seventeen lives through the same tragedy insecret, but they are not all fortunate enough to possess an adoringyounger sister who thinks her all that she fain would be. 

Pam put out a little ink-stained hand, and stroked the half-finishedblouse admiringly. 

"It's going to be lubly, Bet! It hardly shows a bit where you joinedit. You'll soon have finished it now. "

"No, I shan't, " snapped Betty. "There's heaps to do still, and it'sgetting too cold for cottons. Just my luck! I always seem to be makingmistakes. It wasn't my fault that that stupid girl looked up and caughtus watching. "

The underlying thought showed itself in the sudden change of subject, but Pam was not surprised, for in her quiet, shrewd little way she haddivined it long ago. 

"But you said she'd look up, so you could have moved if you liked. Idon't think it was very perlite, " she said solemnly. "There were allfour of you at the window, and my eyes peeping round Miles' back. Iexpect it looked pretty fearful. She went purple, didn't she? It'shorrid to blush! I did once when I got a prize before people, and Ihated it. "

"Oh, you! You are a modest little mouse. The Pet is quite different. Nasty thing, she might have been satisfied without making mischiefbetween Miles and me! She has everything that she wants, and that _I_want, and haven't got. She's pretty, and rich, and has a lovely bighouse and heaps of people to wait upon her, and nice things, and--everything! You can't think how I hate her!"

Pam leant her thin arms on the table, and meditated for a long, thoughtful moment. When she spoke, it was, as usual, to deliver herselfof the unexpected. 

"That's what you call `envy, hatred, and malice, ' I s'pose, " she saidthoughtfully, and Betty's head came up with a jerk to turn upon her aglance of suspicious inquiry. 

No! The round, grey eyes were as clear, as innocent, as guilelesslyadoring as she had ever seen them. They gazed into her own without ashadow of self-consciousness, and as she met that gaze Betty flushed, and the irritable lines disappeared from her face as if wiped out by asponge. 

"One for you, Pam, " she cried, laughing. "I _am_ a pig! A nice bigelder sister I am, to set you such an example! I'm cross, dear. Everything has gone wrong the whole day long. You had better run offand leave me alone, or I'll snap again. I feel all churned up inside!This is only a temporary lapse. "

"There's scones for tea; I saw the bag in the pantry. S'pose I wentdownstairs and coaxed cook to toast them? You said yourself toastedscones were soothing. If Miles smells them he's sure to come, " said Pamshrewdly, and Betty leant forward and kissed her impetuously on thecheek. 

"There's one comfort, " she cried; "I've got you, and the Pet hasn't!You are the comfort of my old age, Pamela, my child. Yes, toasted! Andlots of butter, and leave the door wide open, so that the smell may getout, and lure Miles back. "

CHAPTER TWO. 

THE PEOPLE OF THE SQUARE. 

Brompton Square is situated on the north side of Hyde Park, between theMarble Arch and Lancaster Gate, and is as stiff and, for the greaterportion of the year, as gloomy in appearance as most of the regions inthe neighbourhood. The different sides of the Square differ widely insocial status, the northern side being the most, and the eastern sidethe least, aristocratic and roomy. The largest house of all was a greatgrey stone edifice, having a stretch of three windows on either side ofthe heavy oak door. The smallest and shabbiest stood at right angles toit, showing a shabby frontage of two windows to the gardens, and havingits front entrance in a side street. Really and truly it could barelyclaim to belong to the Square at all, though the landlord claimed, andthe doctor tenant felt it worth while to pay, a heavy rent for theprivilege of printing a fashionable address upon his cards. 

Behind the silken curtains and _brise-bise_ of Number 14, the "PamperedPet" had her residence. At Number 1 the doctor's big family was socrowded together that Betty was thankful to appropriate a front attic asthe only chance of possessing that luxury dear to every girlishheart--"a bedroom to herself!" It was not a luxurious apartment, but itwas pretty, as every girl's bedroom may easily be, if she has the willto make it so. The hemp carpet had long since faded to a nondescriptgrey, but the pink-washed walls were hung with pictures and photographs, and the owner's love of beauty and order showed itself in thearrangement of the furniture, and the careful setting out of a fewtreasured ornaments. 

There was no gas in the room, so that Betty was obliged to do her simpledressing for dinner by the aid of a candle, whose flickering beamsseemed intent on lighting every corner of the room, and leaving themirror in inky darkness. It was only within the last three months thatDr Trevor had left his old-fashioned house in Bloomsbury, hoping thatthe change of residence would help him in his ambition to extend hispractice among a better class of patients. The neighbourhood was new tohis family, and none of the residents of the Square had so far taken anynotice of their presence. Calling is not usual in London unless thereis some personal interest involved, and no doubt the occupants of morearistocratic houses looked down with contempt on the sandwiched row ofshabby windows which belonged to them only on sufferance. If theneighbours showed no interest in the doctor's family, the Trevors, onthe contrary, felt a devouring interest in everyone around them. Theyhad invented nicknames for all the residents in the northern row, ofwhich the schoolroom possessed the best view, before they had been aweek in their new quarters. A glance at the Directory in their father'sconsulting-room would have solved the problem at once, but that was apractical and commonplace method of procedure which made no appeal totheir imaginations. Nicknames were a thousand times better, because youcould manufacture them to suit!

The two old maiden ladies who lived in Number 15 were Emily and Hannah. Emily was dressy, wore a false front, and always took precedence of hersister, who was small and mousy in demeanour. It was apparent to themeanest intellect that a godmother had bequeathed her fortune to Emily, and that she gave her sister a home and generally supported her, forwhich generosity Hannah was duly thankful. The two old ladiesbreakfasted in bed every morning, went out for drives at eleven andthree o'clock, ("ambles, " Miles called them in scornful reference to thepace of the sleek old horses), retired to their rooms for naps afterlunch, ate a hearty dinner at eight, and settled down for the night atten o'clock. 

It does not require the skill of a Sherlock Holmes to discover suchproceedings on the part of our neighbours. The study of electric lightson gloomy autumn days is wonderfully informing! Number 16 wasuninteresting, --only a stupid man and his wife, who looked like ahundred other men and their wives; and who had tiresome silk curtainsdrawn across the lower panes of their windows, so that it was impossibleto obtain a glimpse of the rooms. Number 17, however, more than evermade up for this disappointment, for there lived "The Pretty Lady"beloved by one and all. She was tall, and dark, and young; almost likea girl, and Betty darkly suspected her of being engaged, for she lookedso beamingly happy, and was often seen walking about with a tall, handsome man in the shiniest of top-hats. The door of Number 17 wassomewhat out of the line of vision, so that it was not always easy tosee who went in and out, but the young couple often passed the corner ofthe Square, and always seemed to be in radiant spirits. Once when thepretty lady was wearing a new coat, Edwin (of course he was Edwin!) fellbehind a pace or two to study the effect, and softly clapped his handsin approval. It must be nice, Betty thought wistfully, to be engaged, and have someone who liked you the best of all, and brought you homechocolates and flowers! She was anxious to know who formed the othermembers of the household, but Jill said there was only an invalidmother, who said, "Go about as much as ever you can, my darling. Don'tthink about me! The young should always be happy;" and this wasaccepted by all as a natural and satisfactory explanation. 

There were no children to be found in the whole length of the terrace. The landlords, no doubt, had too much regard for their white enamel andcostly wall-papers to welcome tenants with large families. The"Pampered Pet" in Number 14 was the nearest approach to a child, and shemust have been sixteen at least. Her father was a General Somebody outin India, and her mother remained in England to superintend theDarling's education, and see that she did not get her feet wet. As soonas she was eighteen she would be presented at Court, taken out to India, and married to the Viceroy at the end of her first season. 

The Pet's bedroom was on the third storey of the house, and as itswindows faced the gardens of the Square, she had a fancy for leavingthem undraped, except for the narrow _brise-bise_ over the lower panes. It probably never occurred to her to remember one little dormer windowperched high in the corner house, which of late days had constitutedBetty Trevor's domain, and she would have been greatly surprised to knowhow good a view of her sanctum could be obtained from this vantage-ground, or how much time its mistress gave to enjoying the same. 

All alone in the dark Betty would kneel on a chair and press her faceagainst the cold panes, staring, staring, muttering to herself--

"She has a fire to dress by--I can see the flames flickering up anddown. What stupid indulgence for a child like that! Electric lights inpink shades. It does look cosy! The maid is brushing her hair. I cansee her arm going up and down like a machine. Goodness! How long isshe going to keep on? No wonder it shines! I'll brush mine, too. Tenminutes regularly every night and morning; but I'm always late in themorning, and too tired at night, so I know I won't. I do hope they comeover here to fasten her dress. It was white last night; on Tuesday itwas blue. What a fuss to make, when there is only Mrs General and thegoverness! The Pet plays and sings to them in the drawing-room afterdinner. That hot night when the windows were open we could hear herdistinctly, and it was such a funny little squeak. Jill can imitate itbeautifully. If I couldn't sing better than that I wouldn't sing atall. . .. There! She Is getting up--_pink_ this time! I can see themaid lacing it up. Well, what next!"

Betty crouched back on her knees and sighed dolorously. It must be niceto be rich like that and have everything one wanted, --the only adoreddarling of the household. It did seem hard that one girl should haveeverything she wanted, and another want so much. The furnishing of thisattic bedroom, for instance--everything was a makeshift for somethingelse which was what she really wanted, and had been unable to get, andit was the same all through the house. When mother had pleaded for anew paper for the drawing-room, father had said--

"Not just yet, I'm afraid, dear. There are so many necessities whichmust be met. " That was the worst of it; there never was money enoughfor the nice ornamental things which were so much more interesting thanstodgy old usefuls!

Betty sighed again, and shrugged her shoulders impatiently. ThePampered Pet had finished her toilet by this time; she crossed the roomand stood by the window for a moment, a slim pink figure in the softpink light. 

"Horrid, horrid thing!" cried Betty fretfully. "How I do--" And then atthe very moment of repeating her protestations of dislike, Pam's seriouschildish face rose before her sight, and she heard the sweet shrillvoice saying once again--

"I suppose that's what they call `envy, hatred, and malice. '" . .. 

"She's right, quite right, " Betty acknowledged to herself. "It _is_, orjust as near it as is possible for a girl to get who is surrounded bygood influences. How hateful it sounds! I did feel ashamed of myself. I'm the eldest girl, and I ought to set a good example. If I were quietand gentle and resigned, they would all look up to me, and Mileswouldn't snub me any more. I'll turn over a new leaf from this veryhour, and remember my blessings, and never grumble any more, or becross, or snappy, and be glad, absolutely glad, when other people arebetter off than myself. After all, I'm seventeen. It's time I wasgrowing resigned. I won't envy anybody any more. "

Betty jumped up from her seat, lighted her candles, and began to makeher modest toilet for dinner with an air of satisfied finality. It wascharacteristic of her that she was never satisfied with half-measures, and was always supremely confident of her ability to carry out newresolutions. The determination to become a perfect character was takenas easily as if it had been a choice between a couple of ribbons, andshe put on her quietest blouse, and parted her hair in the middle, brushing it smoothly over her ears, with an artistic satisfaction indressing for a part. The resolution held good exactly a quarter of anhour, at the expiration of which time Jack and Jill dashed suddenly outof the schoolroom as their elder sister was pursuing a staid coursedownstairs, when Jill promptly seized hold of her silk sleeves withsticky fingers, and Jack exclaimed, "I say! What a fright!" withbrotherly candour. 

Betty snapped, of course, and snapped vigorously. It was not her fault, she reflected. No one could be expected to be patient if other peoplewould insist on being so horrid and exasperating!

CHAPTER THREE. 

THE TREVOR FAMILY. 

The family dinner was served at seven o'clock, and all the children, down to Pam herself, appeared at table, for Dr Trevor liked to have hisfamily round him at the close of the day, and, thanks to his wife's goodmanagement, the meal was always a bright and cheery occasion. 

Mrs Trevor was a devoted mother to every one of her flock, but theperson in the house whom she mothered most of all was her hard-workinghusband, whose life was so devoted to others that he had little time toconsider himself. From the children's earliest years they had beentaught that to "worry father" was one of the most serious offences whichthey could commit. 

"Father spends his life going about from one sickroom to another; allday long he is meeting people who are ill, and anxious, in fear, and inpain, and when he comes home he must have a cheery welcome. If you wantto grumble about anything, grumble to yourselves or to me; if you haveanything disagreeable to tell, let it wait until we are alone. Meal-times with father must be devoted to pleasant subjects alone. " Suchwere Mrs Trevor's instructions, instilled into her children's mindswith such persistent firmness that they were never disobeyed, with theresult that the tired doctor came home with the happy certainty ofenjoying a cheery, harmonious hour, and the young people themselveslearnt a lesson in self-restraint which was of infinite value in afterlife. 

Betty might grumble and tirade outside the schoolroom door, but as sheapproached the dining-room she mechanically smoothed her brow andadopted a cheerful expression. To-night Dr Trevor was already seatedin his place at the end of the long table, for his wife took the head, to save him the fatigue of carving for so large a party. He was a tall, thin man, with a lined face lit by the keen, thoughtful eyes of the truephysician. He looked up as his eldest daughter entered the room, andheld out his hand to her in a mute caress. She bent to kiss hisforehead, and stood holding his hand to chat for a few minutes until theother members of the family made their appearance. He noticed thePuritan-like coiffure--there were few things that those shrewd eyes didnot notice--but made no comment thereon, for, as he frequently observedto his wife when she confided to him her troubles over Betty'seccentricities, boys and girls who are in the transition stage betweenchildhood and maturity are apt to become a trifle restless andeccentric, and it was wisdom to be for the most part judiciously blind, interfering only in cases of right and wrong. Let the little maid runwith a loose rein for a time. She would soon settle down, and be thefirst to laugh at her own foibles. 

Mrs Trevor took her place, looking round on her assembled children withthe pretty, half-appealing little smile which was her greatest charm. She was slight and graceful, not stout and elderly, like other people'smothers. In the morning light she often looked wan and tired, but inthe kindly lamplight she seemed more like Betty's sister than the motherof a rapidly growing up family. 

Miles sat at her right hand, a tall, somewhat heavy-looking youth, withenormous hands and feet, a square, determined jaw, and deep-set browneyes. Even a casual glance at him was sufficient to show that he wasgoing to make a man of power and determination, but, like Betty, he waspassing through his awkward stage, and was often neither easy noragreeable to live with. 

Jack was just a mischievous schoolboy, with protruding ears andtwinkling eyes. One can see a score like him any day, marching, marching along the street with satchels of books; but his twin sisterhad a more striking personality. Jill was a mystery to her relationsand friends. She had ordinary brown hair, and not too much of that, light blue eyes with indifferent lashes, a nose a shade more impertinentthan Betty's own, a big mouth, and a powdering of freckles under hereyes; yet with those very ordinary equipments she managed to rank as abeauty among her schoolmates, and to attract more admiration than isvouchsafed to many people whose features might have been turned out of aclassic mould. Betty used to ponder wistfully over the secret of Jill'scharm, and think it hard lines that it had not been given to herself, who would have cared for it so much more. Jill didn't care a pin howshe looked. She wanted to "have fun, " to invite Nora Bruce to tea asoften as possible, to buy a constant supply of a special sort of almondtoffee which was offered for sale at a shop which she passed on the wayto school, to be a first-form girl and have one of the new desks, and, incidentally, to pass the Cambridge examination if it could be donewithout too much "fag. " She put on her clothes any way, did her hair inthe twinkling of an eye, and the effect was uniformly charming. 

"If she's untidy, she's picturesque; if I'm untidy, I'm a fright. It'smean!" soliloquised Betty discontentedly. Every day she lived she wasthe more convinced that the world was topsy-turvy, and that she herselfwas the only person who was competent to set it to rights. 

Pam was just Pam; like herself, and no one else in the world. A dearlittle, wide-eyed, pointed-chinned kitten, everybody's tease, and pet, and conscience all in one, for those clear child eyes seemed to seethrough all pretences, and what she thought she put into words without ashadow of fear or hesitation. 

It was a very plain, almost a frugal, repast, but the table lookedcheerful and pretty with the pink-shaded lamp in the centre, surroundedby the four little bowls of flowers which it was one of Betty's dutiesto keep fresh, and there was no lack of lively conversation. 

Mrs Trevor had had a trying day, and several of her worries must ofnecessity be discussed with her husband later on, but she would allow nohint of them to escape until he had been fed and rested, and in the samemanner all the children searched their memories for the pleasantestevent which they had experienced to retail for his benefit. 

"I was top to-day, father, " Jack announced proudly; "answered everysingle question in Latin, and read off my translation like a book. If Iliked to stew, I believe I could lick Johnston all the time. He waspretty sick at having to go down; looked as glum as an old owl for therest of the morning. "

"He takes his work more seriously than you do, my boy. You say youcould be top if you liked: I am glad to hear it; but why don't you like?You can't surely prefer a lower place?"

"Oh, well, there's reason in all things!" returned Jack, with avagueness which his brothers and sisters had apparently littledifficulty in understanding, for they laughed, and sniggered meaninglyto each other. 

"Such a waste of time, when there is football to be played!"

"A full back has to keep his energy for his work, and not fritter itaway over stupid books. That's about it, isn't it, Jack?" they teased, while Dr Trevor said between a sigh and a smile--

"Ah, well, my boy, you are old enough to judge for yourself how yourtime should be spent! If you win a scholarship, I'll manage to help youthrough a 'Varsity course, but I can't afford to keep you thereunassisted. Remember it is your whole career which is at stake. "

"All right, father, I _will_ work, " said Jack easily. 

He was an affectionate boy, who disliked disappointing his parents, butunfortunately he disliked work even more. He was rather sorry now thathe had mentioned his easy victory over the redoubtable Johnston. Thepater would expect him to be top every day, whereas he had only just puton a spurt to show what he could do if he chose. Suppose he did losethe scholarship, it wouldn't be so bad after all, he could still playfooter on Saturday afternoons!

The doctor's glance had wandered, as if for consolation, to his elderson--Miles the strenuous, the indefatigable, who had a passion for workfor work's sake. He was going through the practical stage of anengineer's training, and left the house at six o'clock each morning, toreturn in the afternoon clad in workman's clothes, incredibly greasy anddirty. Betty suffered agonies in case "they"--that wonderful impersonal"they" who overclouded her life--should think he was really and truly anordinary workman! On one occasion Miles had joined her on the doorstepas she was returning from an afternoon walk, and she had distinctly seenthe curtains of the Pampered Pet's drawing-room move, as if someone werepeeping out from behind, when, as she confided to Jill later on, "hercheeks turned k-r-rimson with mortification!"

"Well, Miles, my boy, did you take your little invention with you to-day, and were you able to show it to the manager?"

"Yes, I took it all right. "

"And what did he say?"

"He said it was all right. "

"Does that mean that he acknowledged that it was an improvement on thepresent method? Did he feel inclined to give it a trial?"

"Oh yes, it went all right. He said it would do. "

"But that's capital! Capital! I congratulate you heartily! Didn't MrDavidson seem pleased that you should have hit on such a bright idea?"

"Oh, he said it was all right. "

Miles made a determined attack on his plate, as if pleading to be leftalone to enjoy his dinner in peace. Since the days of his babyhood hehad shown a strong inventive genius, and now it was his delight to spendhis spare moments working in his little cupboard sanctum at home, striving to improve on any bit of machinery which struck him as fallingshort of perfection. It was a very simple thing which he had attempted, but in machinery, as in many other things, trifles are all-important, and it was a triumph indeed that a lad of nineteen should have hit on animprovement which was considered worth a trial. 

Dr Trevor and his wife exchanged smiles of happy satisfaction. Theyyearned to ask a dozen more questions, but refrained out of sympathywith that natural masculine reserve which they understood so well. Betty, however, was less considerate. 

"I do think you might tell us a little more about it, Miles!" she criedresentfully. "You know we are all dying of curiosity. I can't thinkwhy it is that boys can never give a decent account of anything that hashappened! Now, if it had been me, I should have begun at the verybeginning, from the moment I entered the works, and told you how I feltas I went upstairs, and how I began to speak to the manager, and what hesaid, and how he looked, and--"

"What colour of necktie he wore--"

Betty tossed her head in scornful contempt of the burst of laughterevoked by Miles' words. 

"And what he did with the screw, or whatever you call it, when youshowed it to him, and what the other men said, and-- Oh, dozens ofinteresting things; but you can say nothing but `all right' to everysingle question. It _is_ dull!"

"You must allow for diversities of talent, Betty, " said Mrs Trevor, laughing. "We do not all possess your powers of description. Miles isvery modest over his success, and I, like you, want to hear moredetails. You must be sure to tell us how the trial works, Son; and ifyour improvement is permanently adopted, I shall be proud!"

"Nothing to be proud of!" muttered Miles into his plate. 

If there was one thing he loathed more than another, it was to bepraised and petted, and made the centre of attention. His roughenedfingers clenched themselves tightly round the knife and fork, and he cuthis beef into pieces with savage energy. 

Why couldn't they leave a fellow alone? All this fuss about a bit of acog!

Betty divined his discomfiture, as she divined all that concerned herbeloved brother, but she had not the tact to come to the rescue, and itwas Jill who turned the conversation by a casual question which yet wasof interest to all the family. 

"Father, is there a father at the big house at the corner? We can'tdecide what's the matter with him. There must have been one, of course, because of the Pet. Jack says he's dead, but she is not in mourning, and the mother doesn't wear widow's things. I say he's gone a tourround the world, and is buying presents at every port so as to pamperher more than ever when he comes back. "

Dr Trevor looked a trifle mystified, but he was accustomed to hischildren's mental flights, and, after a moment's consideration, hereplied smilingly--

"If you mean Number 14, the tenant is a certain Major Alliot, who is atpresent, I believe, with his regiment in India. I don't know anythingabout his household, or the identity of the `Pet, ' as you are pleased tocall her. "

"I wish she'd fall downstairs, or have an accident of some sortsuddenly, so that they'd have to fly across for you in a hurry, " sighedJill with frank brutality. "I wish all the people in that row wouldhave accidents, so that you could tell us all about them. We are dyingwith curiosity!"

"Wouldn't influenza do as well? There is no need to be quite so brutal, Jill, " her father reminded her. "Besides, it is hardly my usual customto tell you `all about' my cases, is it? I should be very glad to findnew patients nearer here for my own sake; which reminds me, dear, that Ihave to go a long drive after dinner, and shan't be home for theevening, as I hoped. It is unfortunate having so many late nights thisweek. "

Mrs Trevor's brow shadowed for a moment, but she recovered herself, andsmiled bravely at her husband, while Betty cried emphatically--

"I shall never marry a doctor!"

"Lucky beggar! He's had an escape anyway!" growled Miles beneath hisbreath, quite unable to resist paying Betty back for her attack on him afew moments before, and Betty laughed as merrily as the rest at the jokeagainst herself. 

"Well, I shall have an escape too! I don't like ill people or havinganything to do with them; it's not my vocation!" she announcedgrandiloquently, and her face fell with dismay when her father saidcheerily--

"Oh, come, you don't do yourself justice, dear. I always find you avery acceptable little nurse. Mrs Ewen was asking for you only to-day. I should be glad if you would make a point of going to see her someafternoon this week, and trying to amuse her for an hour or two. Shehas had a very sharp attack, poor soul. "

"Yes, father, " assented Betty meekly, but mentally she ground her teeth. 

Mrs Ewen was an old patient, a tiresome patient from Betty's point ofview, who never grew better, but was frequently worse, who spent all herlife in her bedroom and an upstairs sitting-room, her chief subject ofconversation being the misdemeanours of her hardly-worked nurses. Shehad taken a fancy to the doctor's young daughter, and liked to bevisited by her as often as possible in convalescent periods; but Bettydid not return the liking. 

"She doesn't understand girls, " she grumbled to herself. "I don'tbelieve she ever was a girl herself. She must have been born aboutforty, with spectacles and a cap. I can't think why she wants to seeme. I do nothing but say `Yes' and `No' while she abuses other people, and yawn my head off in that stifling room. And I did so want to get onwith my blouse. Seems as if I could never do as I like, somehow!"

She sat looking such an image of meekness and resignation, with hersmoothly-braided locks and downcast lids, that her father's lipstwitched with amusement as he glanced at her, and quickly averted hiseyes. He knew just as well as she did how distasteful his request hadbeen, but he was none the less anxious to enforce it. Betty's horizonwas blocked with self at the present moment, and anything and everythingwas of gain which forced her to think of something besides that all-important personage Miss Elizabeth Trevor. 

CHAPTER FOUR. 

A PIECE OF LOOKING-GLASS. 

"Such a joke, Jill! The sun is shining, and the Pet is sitting reading, in the drawing-room window, and I've found a broken piece of looking-glass in the street. --There's luck! Let's hide behind the curtains andflash it in her eyes!"

Jill's book fell down with a crash, and she leapt to her feet, abeamwith anticipation. It was Saturday, and she had announced her intentionof "stewing hard" all the afternoon, but the claims of examinations sankinto the background before the thrilling prospect held out by her twin. 

"Break it in two! Fair does, Jack! Give me a bit, and let us flash inturns!" she cried eagerly; but Jack would not consent to anything sorash. 

"How can I divide it, silly?" he replied. "I haven't a diamond _to cutit_, and if I crunch it with my foot it may all go to smithereens, andthere will be nothing left. I'll lend it to you for a bit now and then, but you won't aim straight. Girls never do!"

"I do! I do!" Jill maintained loudly. "I will! I will! Come along, be quick! She might move away, and it would be such a sell. I'll kneeldown here and keep the curtains round me. I wonder what she's reading. Something awfully dry and proper, I expect! What heaps of hair! Ithangs over her face, so that we shan't be able to dazzle her a bit. "

"Yes, we will, " contradicted Jack. "She'll see the light dancing abouton the page, and look up to see what's the matter! You watch, but mindyou don't bob up your head and let her see you!"

"Mind you don't let her see your hand! It's sticking right out. Youought to put on a dark glove, which she wouldn't notice against thepane. "

Jack was pleased to approve of the glove proposition, and an adjournmentwas made to the doctor's dressing-room, where a pair of `funeral gloves'were discovered which seemed exactly what was desired. Jack drew one onhis right hand, Jill drew the other on her left, and thus equipped theycrept back to their hiding-place behind the shabby red curtains, andproceeded to work. 

It was rather difficult to move the glass so as to throw the reflectionon one exact spot, as the conspirators could only peep out for a momentat a time. The little white circle of light danced all over the biggrey house before it found the window above the porch, and, movingslowly up and down, eventually alighted on the page of the open book. Jill giggled, Jack snored loudly, as was his habit when excited; the Petgave a little hitch round in her chair, and read on stolidly. 

"My turn! My turn!" cried Jill excitedly. "You've had your innings, now give me mine. Hand it over!" and the two black gloved hands met inthe middle of the window. 

"You moved it away too quickly! You must follow her about, and bob itg-ently up and down. Wait till I get it right. There it is! I've gotit better than you, Jack, ever so much better!"

"That's because the sun's so much brighter. Be careful now. That'senough! If you go on too long at a time, she'll move away into the roomand it will be all up. Let her settle down again, and imagine she's allright, then we'll give her another treat!"

It was wonderful how expert one grew with practice! The light nowdanced direct to its destination, and move her book as she would, thePet could not escape. At last she grew impatient, tossed back her maneof hair and turned to stare curiously out of the window. This was thelonged-for opportunity, and Jack snored louder than ever with reliefthat it had come about when it was his turn to hold the treasured glass. Quick as thought he waved it to and fro, and the Pet threw up herhands, unable to withstand the glare. Safe in the seclusion of theirdistant room, the twins shrieked with exultation, and had much ado tokeep their position behind the curtains. Jill kept endeavouring tosnatch the glass from her brother, but Jack was too intent on his workto take any notice of her efforts. 

The Pet lifted one hand from her eyes and cautiously peeped out. Thesun was shining with unusual brilliancy for an October morning, butthere was not the slightest difficulty in viewing the landscape as fullyas she liked. She turned her head from side to side in a curiousinquiring fashion, and Jack, with an artist's appreciation of the rightmoment, waited until she had abandoned the search, and was about tosettle down again, when another blinding flash of light fell full on herface, and she shrank back into the shade with a startled gesture. 

Seated in this last position, she exactly faced the schoolroom, and thetwins had a moment's horrified fear that she had caught a glimpse oftheir peeping faces, but her next movement put an end to suspicion, forshe took up her book and settled down again to her reading exactly as ifshe had never been interrupted. 

And then an extraordinary thing happened! The mane of golden hair wastossed back, leaving the face fully exposed, yet though the twinsflashed the light on both eyes and book, the Pet read on stolidly, turning over the pages with leisurely enjoyment, apparently no whitdisturbed. 

"What's the matter with her all of a sudden? Is she blind?" Jillqueried impatiently. 

Jack grunted, and flashed more vigorously than ever, but the Pet mighthave been a hundred miles away for all the effect produced. It was mostmysterious and perplexing, not to say exasperating to the last degree. After ten minutes' fruitless effort, Jack went off in search of freshvictims, and Jill sorrowfully returned to her lessons. 

How interested they would have been if they could have overheard aconversation which was even then taking place across the road!

"Dear child!" cried a lady lying on a sofa at the far end of abeautifully-furnished drawing-room. "Dear child, what are you doing?For the last five minutes I have been watching you pretending to readwith your eyes shut. It's not a lesson book, and Miss Mason is nothere, so what can you be thinking about, dear wee goose?"

The fair head turned round, and the book dropped to the floor. 

"I'm thinking, " said a very sweet, sad little voice, "I'm thinking thatI wish I were a large family, mother. I'm so tired of being only one!"

"Oh, Cynthia!" cried the lady--and there was a world of mother-yearningin her voice--"is it that old trouble again? Poor child, it is dull foryou, but I do all I can for you, darling. I stayed at home especiallyto be near you, and I do my best to be a companion, and to sympathise inall your interests. Don't tell me that I have failed altogether!"

Cynthia crossed the room, knelt down on the floor by her mother's couchand laid both hands on her knee. The two faces that confronted eachother were as much alike as was possible, given a difference in age oftwenty-five years. Cynthia was a beautiful girl, and her mother was abeautiful woman, and the beauty lay as much in expression as in feature. Miles Trevor had been entirely mistaken when he compared the girl to adoll, for the direct glance of the eye, the sweet, firm lips and well-formed chin, belonged to no puppet, but showed unusual strength ofcharacter. 

"You are a darling, and I adore you!" cried Cynthia fondly. "But youare old, you know, and I am so dreadfully young. There's something allfizzling inside me for want of a vent. I'm just desperate sometimes todo something wild, and exciting, and hilarious; it doesn't matter howsilly it is; the sillier the better! I'm so dreadfully well-regulated, mother, considering I'm only sixteen. Lessons--`studies, ' as Miss Masoncalls them--musical exercises, constitutional, luncheon, more studies, dinner, polite conversation, performances upon the piano, that's mydaily round, and I get _so_ tired! Don't think I don't appreciate you, mother. You know I do. We are the best friends in the world, butstill--"

"I know, " said Mrs Alliot, and sighed once more. She stroked herdaughter's golden head in thoughtful silence, then asked curiously, "What made you feel your loneliness especially to-day, dear?"

A flicker of laughter passed over Cynthia's pink-and-white face. 

"The boy and girl in Number 1, the corner house, were playing tricks onme, trying to dazzle my eyes with something--a piece of old looking-glass, I suppose. I could not understand what caused the sudden glareuntil I caught a glimpse of their faces peering out from behind thecurtains. "

"Trying to dazzle you! That doctor's children? How exceedingly rude!They must be very badly brought up. And you were sitting with your eyesshut pretending to go on reading. You curious child! Why?"

"It was their joke; they enjoyed it. It would have been mean to cut itshort. Besides, " added Cynthia, with a twinkle, "it was my joke too!They must have been so puzzled when I seemed to go on reading, for theycouldn't see that my eyes were shut, and I went on turning over thepages at regular intervals, as if I were perfectly comfortable andhappy. Oh no, I don't think they are rude, mother; only frisky, and Ilove frisky people! There are such a lot of them, and they do have sucha good time. Schoolroom tea all together, and the big girl pours out. I could see them quite well when they first came, and the afternoonswere light. They go in pairs--a big boy and a big girl, a middling boyand a middling girl, and then a dear little girl with a face like akitten. I like them all so much, but--" and her voice died away in aplaintive cadence, "they don't like me!"

"And how have you found that out, may I ask?"

"I--I feel they don't, " sighed Cynthia sadly. "They watch me out of thewindows, and talk and laugh, and make remarks among themselves. Thewindow seemed full of faces the other day. .. "

Mrs Alliot's delicate face flushed resentfully. 

"Abominably rude! Really, dear, I don't think you need worry yourselfwhat such people think. There can be no possible excuse for suchbehaviour!"

"Oh yes, dear, there is, for they don't intend me to see! It was quiteextraordinary how they all vanished into space the very instant I raisedmy eyes. You might just as well say it is rude of me to stare intotheir windows, and I do, for I can't help it. It's a sort of magnet tome every time I pass. I do so wish I knew them, mother dear!"

Mrs Alliot smiled and stroked her daughter's head once more. She wasthinking that for Cynthia's sake she must really manage to cultivatesome friends with large families; but she had not the least intention ofintroducing her daughter to the strange doctor's mischievous, unconventional children. 

In many cases, however, there is something stronger than the will ofparents and guardians. Some people call it fate, some by a higher name. In later years Cynthia Alliot considered her friendship with the Trevorfamily as one of the greatest providences of her life. 

CHAPTER FIVE. 

AN OLD TRICK. 

It was very dull and dreary for the remainder of the month, typicalNovember weather, with what the Trevors called a "pea-soup" atmosphere, deepening now and then into a regular fog. The Square gardens weresoaking with moisture, the surrounding houses looked greyer and gloomierthan ever, until it seemed impossible to believe that the sky had everbeen blue, or that gay-coloured spring flowers had flourished in thoseblack-looking beds. 

Jack and Jill had the bad taste to approve of fogs. They were"ripping, " they declared. "So adventurous and jolly! Yesterday, when Iwas walking to school, a hansom drove on the pavement beside me. Thinkof that!" cried Jill in a tone of triumph. "The horse's nose nearlytouched my shoulder, and an old lady near me shrieked like anything. It_was_ sport!"

Jack was rather envious of the hansom episode, but had had his own shareof amusement. "I followed Johnston all the way home, and chaffed himwith a pebble in my mouth to disguise my voice. He was nearly mad withrage, and whenever he turned round I simply bent double, and he went foranother fellow, and there was no end of a game. "

"But how did it happen that you could see him when he couldn't see you?"queried Jill, when Jack was forced to admit that he _had_ made mistakesmore than once; but it only added to the sport to see the consternationof innocent pedestrians when an accusing voice suddenly hissed in theirears, "Who sneaked the indiarubber from Smith's desk?"

The twins were happily constituted to enjoy all things, and from theirconversation it would have appeared that to be hopelessly lost in a fogwould be the climax of earthly joy; but Betty hated the gloom of thelong days, when the gas burned steadily from breakfast to bedtime, andwas nervous about trusting herself alone in the streets. In her leisuremoments she devoted herself to the preparation of Christmas presents, and turned over the contents of her scrap-drawers, debating how to makea dozen handsome articles with the least possible expenditure. It is tobe feared that Betty's gifts were arranged more to suit her ownconvenience than the tastes of the recipients. "This will make a book-cover for Jill. I don't suppose she'll ever use it, but it's not bigenough for anything else, so she'll just have to like it!" This was thespirit in which she assorted her materials, and set to work thereon. Not the ideal attitude by any means, but one must make allowances for agirl with a small allowance and a large family connection, and must alsoenter it to the credit of this particular damsel that she grudged nowork which could beautify the simple background. Poor Betty! For twowhole gloomy afternoons did she work at a spray of roses on a linenwork-bag, and on the third day a feeble gleam of sunlight showed itself, and lo, the roses were a harlequin study in pinks and orange!

"Is it at all trying? Is it enough to make you pitch the whole thinginto the fire?" she demanded dramatically of the chairs and tables, asthe horrible discovery burst upon her, and she proceeded to snap at thesilk with her sharp little scissors, and viciously tear away thestitches. "Shan't bother to fill them in any more! They'll just haveto do in outline, and if she doesn't like it she can do the otherthing!" she grunted under her breath; but that was only the impulse ofthe moment, and when it came to action each stitch was put in ascarefully as before. 

"What are you sewing away at those old things for?" Jill demanded, coming into the room and seating herself easily on the edge of thetable. "It's much easier to buy match-boxes and needle-books. You canget beauties for sixpence three-farthings at the Christmas bazaars, andit saves no end of fag. You can give me safety-pins if you like, for myclothes are all coming to pieces, and my pins disappear like smoke. Mary eats them, I believe! What are you going to give mother?"

"Can't think! She wants a palm for the drawing-room, but a nice onecosts half a guinea, and I couldn't possibly scrape together more thanthree and six. "

Jill pondered, swinging her feet to and fro. "Five more Saturdays atfourpence each, --one and eight-pence, and I've got about two shillingsin hand. No! I couldn't possibly offer to join. I wish we could havemanaged it, for the drawing-room doesn't look half furnished, and a bigpalm would have made a fine effect, but we can't, so there's an end ofthat!"

A gasp of suppressed nervousness sounded from the end of the room, andPam's voice said with the usual funny little squeak, "I've got sixpencewith a hole in it. I'll join, Betty! Do get mother a palm! She wantsit so badly. We saw one in a shop window yesterday, and she said it wasjust the thing for our room!"

"Sorry, Pam, but it can't be done. They are a frightful price in theshops, and even old `All a-growing all a-blowing' has none under sevenand six. Perhaps when her birthday comes round we can manage it, but atChristmas there are so many presents to buy that one can't afford bigthings. "

"I want to get it now, " squeaked Pam obstinately, while Jill jumped downfrom the table and turned to the door. 

"I'm going out! Can't afford to waste holiday afternoons. Why don'tyou put away that stupid work and come too?"

"Where are you going? A walk?"

"Rather not! Am I a Pampered Pet to promenade up and down? Jack and Iare going to have some fun in the Square. I'm not going to tell youwhat it is, but you can come too if you like. "

Betty raised her head and peered out of the window. Black railings, black trees, sodden grass, paths strewn with decaying leaves, a fast-failing light. She gave a shudder of distaste and sank back in herchair. 

"Thanks! I prefer the fire. I can't understand you, Jill, going in foran exam, and wasting every spare moment you get! When I went in, Istewed every Saturday afternoon the whole term, and never dreamed ofgoing out. "

"Yes, and got plucked for your pains!" retorted Jill brutally. PoorBetty! She had passed so well in everything but that fatal arithmetic, which made all the difference between success and failure. The figureswould not add up, the lines danced before her eyes, she could notremember the simplest table. It was cruel to rake up that old sore. She pressed her lips together and sat in offended dignity, while Jillskipped to the door, tossing her pretty pert head. 

"I shall take care of my health and my nerves, and not have thembreaking down just when I need them most. If the worst comes to theworst, I shall be no worse off than you were yourself, and I shall havehad my fun!"

She ran downstairs into the hall, where Jack was awaiting her with abrown-paper parcel tucked under his arm, and together they crossed theroad to the nearest gate, and let themselves into the garden with aheavy key. 

"The other corner is the best, " Jack cried, leading the way forward atan eager pace, "more traffic, and thicker bushes. I spotted the exactplace yesterday. Have you got the reel in your pocket all right?"

"Yes, yes! And you must give me my turn, Jack. It's only fair, becauseyou wouldn't let me have a parcel of my own on the other side. "

"Of course not! You wouldn't expect to find two lost parcels within afew yards of each other, would you? You want to give the whole showaway!" cried Jack in indignant schoolboy fashion. "Now don't talk somuch, but creep between these bushes when nobody is passing. There'sroom for us both, and I can get a pull at the string between thesebranches. We'll have a rehearsal now, and see how it works. " Hecrawled forward on the dank earth, in easy unconcern for the knees ofhis trousers, dropped the daintily-wrapped parcel on to the centre ofthe pavement, and crept back to his place, holding in his hand the endof a long black thread. 

They crouched together behind the bushes, as mischievous a Jack and Jillas have been known since the world began, giggling with anticipatedglee, nudging each other violently at the sound of approachingfootsteps, and peering eagerly through their loopholes to see whatmanner of prey was about to fall into their hands. 

First, a fine lady walking gingerly along, both hands occupied inkeeping her skirt from contact with the greasy pavement. She looked atthe parcel with blank indifference, and passed quietly on her way. Thetwins gasped with stupefaction. Could such things be? Was it possiblethat a human creature could be so surfeited with the good things of thisworld, that she could behold an unopened parcel lying on the ground, andfeel no curiosity to discover what was inside? Imagination refused topicture such a position!

"Mad!" was Jack's scornful explanation. "Mad as a March hare! Ought tobe shut up out of the way. Walked straight over the string too. Hopeto goodness she hasn't broken it!"

A flick to the end of the string proved that this fear was unfounded, and the twins composed themselves for another period of waiting. Pedestrians seemed to prefer the pavement by the houses instead of thatdarker one overshadowed by the trees of the gardens, and several momentselapsed before a brisk footstep announced the approach of a tall, wellset-up man clad in a light overcoat. His eye lit on the parcel, he benthis head and stretched out a hand to raise it up. Instantly Jack gave aflick to the string, to which the parcel responded by jumping an inch ortwo farther along the pavement. The brown-coated man straightenedhimself, gave a funny little grunt, half amused, half-angry, and strodeon his way. He had been a boy himself!

The next victim was an old woman carrying a pile of parcels, andbreathing heavily from fatigue, but although over-laden, she wasevidently nothing loath to add to her burden. The twins could hear hersurprised exclamation, and see the hitch of the shoulders with which shefreed her right arm for the attack. Down she bent, panting louder thanbefore, until, even as her envious fingers approached the prize, itleapt into the air, and as by some magic process disappeared from sight. Jack was bursting with pride at his own adroitness, and Jill nudged inenthusiastic approval. This came of fishing by the river-banks in thelast summer holidays, and gaining dexterity in the art of casting lines!It was wonderful how useful such accomplishments were at times. Thebewildered face of the disappointed treasure-seeker was almost too muchfor the conspirators, and had she not been too much engrossed in her ownthoughts she must certainly have heard the splutterings which not eventhe handkerchief stuffed between Jill's lips could entirely drown. Witha sigh she went on her way, wondering if eyesight were about to fail, asthe culmination of her troubles. 

After this came an errand-boy, whistling as he walked. He made a pounceat the parcel, and when it disappeared had no difficulty inunderstanding the phenomenon. 

"Ho, you would, would you?" he cried, and picking up a handful ofstones, sent them flying in among the bushes with such force that thetwins congratulated themselves on escaping without injury. 

They learnt a lesson from this experience, and henceforth made a rule ofallowing all boys to pass by when they practised this particularpastime. By this time Jill was shivering in her shabby coat, andbeginning to cast longing glances across the Square to the lightedschoolroom window. Anticipations of tea and hot buttered toast--theSaturday afternoon treat of years' standing--made her present positionseem unattractive, and she proposed an immediate adjournment home. 

Jack, however, was not yet satisfied with his achievements. 

"We haven't had what I call a real proper rise out of anyone yet. Justonce more, and then we'll run for it, " he protested, and Jill shivered, and yielded to his superior will. 

She had not long to wait. In less than five minutes a slow, measuredtread was heard in the distance, and presently an elderly gentleman hovein sight, portly, well-dressed, and walking with a certain stiffness anddeliberation which would have secured for him the sympatheticconsideration of people of his own age. Jack and Jill, however, had nothought for such uninteresting subjects as rheumatism; they nudged eachother delightedly, and waited in breathless silence to see what wouldhappen next. 

Tramp, tramp, tramp came the slow approach, and then a sudden halt--thehalt they knew so well--followed by something like a stifled groan asthe victim stiffly bent forward to examine the treasure-trove. Hisgloved hand had nearly closed on the parcel when Jack adroitly flickedit a few inches away. He bent still farther, with another gaspingeffort, and then, even as the parcel again moved onward, there came aloud, startled cry, and the horrified twins beheld their victim fallforward on his face, and lie helpless on the ground. 

CHAPTER SIX. 

WHAT CAME OF THE TRICK. 

A moment Jack and Jill stared at each other in horrified silence, thenthe same words burst from both lips--

"We must help him! We must see if he is hurt!" Out from behind thebushes they flew, raced for the nearest gate, and ran panting to thescene of the accident. 

The rays from the lamp near at hand lighted up the pavement, and showedthe old gentleman already dragging himself to his feet, assisted by alady whom Jill recognised in the flash of an eye as the much-admiredoccupant of Number 17. There she stood in her smart fur coat, a littlered velvet toque perched on her dark locks, supporting the old gentlemanby the arm, and so evidently overpowered by his weight that she wasoverjoyed to welcome further assistance. 

No words were spoken, but quick as light Jack darted forward and pulledwith all his force, while Jill placed both hands against the bluebroadcloth back and vigorously pushed forward. As a result of theseunited efforts, the old gentleman was hoisted to an upright position, with a celerity which appeared to startle him almost as much as thepreceding fall. He leant against the railings, puffed and panted, groaned and grumbled, while the onlookers listened with sympathy andself-reproach. 

"Injured for life--strained in every muscle--nervous shock--police--disgraceful--much obliged--advice at once--no time for delay. " Thedifferent phrases detached themselves from attacks of groanings andsighings, and, hearing the last words, Jack was blessed with a brilliantinspiration. 

"There's a doctor at the corner, sir. Would you like me to help you tothe house?" he said in his politest manner. 

It seemed as if, after all, good might arise out of evil if the accidentwere the means of providing his father with a new patient. There wasnot much wrong with the old fellow--anyone could see that--but he wasfidgety and nervous about himself, which, of course, would make him themore valuable from a doctor's point of view. Later on the boy would beobliged to confess his own responsibility in the accident. He wouldfeel a sneak if he did not, but the present was the time for action, notconfession. 

"Doctor at the corner, eh? Well, well, get me to him as quickly aspossible. Shattered! Quite shattered! Must have a rest, and drivehome! Bad day's work! Never the same again!"

The old gentleman laid his hand on Jack's shoulder and hobbled stifflyaway, pausing just one moment to lift his hat and say courteously--

"My best thanks to you, madam, for your assistance. " Jill and thepretty lady were left standing in the middle of the pavement, staringcuriously into each other's faces. 

The pretty lady was dark, and quite young, astonishingly young, like abig girl dressed in important clothes. Her eyes were very bright andhappy-looking, and her lips looked as though they were made forlaughter. Jill's pert little face was left fully exposed by the clothcap which was perched at the top of her curly locks; her expression wasdivided between triumph and consternation. 

"Do you think he is hurt, really hurt?" she asked eagerly. "He made agreat fuss, but men generally do, and he walks nearly as well as before. He can't have broken anything, can he?"

"Oh no!" cried the pretty lady. "I think you can be quite sure of that, but at such an age any shock of this kind may be serious. He is a veryheavy old man. "

She paused, looking at the girl with an inquiring expression, as ifwaiting for something which had not yet been said, and to her ownastonishment Jill found herself answering the unspoken question. 

"It was our fault that he fell at all. We did it. We were in theSquare hiding behind the bushes, and we had a parcel just the right sizeto hold something nice and pretty--it was cotton-wool really!--veryneatly tied up. We dropped it out through the railings and waited tillpeople came along, and then we twitched it away by the end of a longblack thread. "

The pretty lady's expression changed suddenly. Up till now she had beenall interest and vivacity, almost one might have imagined of approval, but at the last word she frowned and shook her head. Jill expected avigorous remonstrance, but the words, when they came, were not in theleast what she had expected. 

"Thread!" echoed the pretty lady shrilly. "But how stupid! Elastic isfar better. It jerks ever so much bet--" She stopped suddenly with agasp of recollection, and continued in a stiff, mincing voice, "It isvery unwise to play practical jokes. One can never tell what theconsequence may be. "

Jill laughed gaily, being much too sharp to be put off with sotransparent a pretence. She drew a step nearer to the pretty lady, andlooked up in her face with twinkling eyes. 

"Oh, it's no use pretending! You weren't shocked a bit! I believe"--she gave a little gasp at the audacity of the idea, but her courage didnot fail--"I believe you have even--done it yourself. However did youmanage to think of elastic? It's a lovely idea!"

The pretty lady wrinkled her brows in a funny, apologetic fashion. 

"It doesn't follow because I did a thing that it is not foolish andrash. I am afraid I was known for my foolish tricks. I was one of abig family--such a lot of sisters that people used to call us `thehouseful of girls, ' and I was the most mischievous of all. I don't wantto preach to you--it wouldn't be fair, would it, when I have done farsillier things myself?--but next time you try the parcel trick, get itout of the way when old people come along. Don't let them run the riskof a fall, like this poor old gentleman, or even have the trouble ofstooping for nothing. Try to remember, won't you? And, "--eyes andteeth flashed in an irresistible smile, --"_try the elastic_!"

Jill's merry trill rang out again, and the pretty lady looked at herwith smiling approval. The girl's natural attractiveness was asconspicuous as ever, despite the disadvantageous circumstances, and itwould have been a cold heart that did not warm towards her, as she stoodwith hands thrust deep into her pockets, fresh, wholesome, and bonnie, like a bit of summer in the midst of the grey London gloom. 

The pretty lady had heard high praise of the skill of the new doctor whohad come to live in the Square, and also of the personal character ofhimself and his wife, but at this moment it is to be feared that shefelt little interested in them as individuals, but regarded them solelyas the parents of their daughter. 

"It is getting rather dusk for you to be out alone. I will walk withyou to the corner. You are one of the doctor's daughters, aren't you?I have watched you and your sisters from my windows, and envied you forbeing together. I do so miss my own sisters. I have five--think ofthat!--and only one married besides myself. You can think what a livelytime of it we used to have!"

But Jill was too busy thinking of something else to have any thought tospare for the lively times of the past. 

"Are you married?" she inquired breathlessly. "Truly and really? Youlook much too young. We thought you were engaged, and had an invalidmother in the house. I suppose he is the husband?"

"Yes, he is the husband, sure enough, and we keep no invalids norskeletons of any sort in the cupboards, only such a lot of big, emptyrooms, waiting for girls to fill them. I do love girls. I can't behappy without girls. We have been away constantly the last few months, but now that we are settled at home I must call on your mother, and askif she will spare you to come and have tea with me sometimes. Would youlike to come?"

"Rather!" replied Jill in expressive, schoolgirl fashion, and the prettylady laughed again. 

"That's all right! We must arrange a day quite soon, and I must askCynthia Alliot to meet you. She is a lonely little soul who needslivening. There now, here we are at your door, and I am sure you arelonging to see how the old gentleman is getting on. Good-bye! We shallmeet soon again. "

She waved her hand, and hurried homewards, the red toque gleaming outbrightly as she passed under the lamp-post, and Jill gazed after herwith adoring eyes. Young girls often cherish a romantic affection forwomen older than themselves, and where could there be a more fittingobject on which to lavish one's devotion--so young, so pretty, sofriendly, so--so understanding! She had not preached a bit, only justthought it would be better to leave old people alone; and then thatsuggestion of elastic! In itself it was sufficient to establish her asa miracle of good sense and ingenuity!

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

WHAT THE VICTIM SAID. 

Jill entered the house to hear from the servant that the doctor had notyet returned from his rounds, that Mrs Trevor was also out, and thatMiss Betty and Master Jack were looking after the old gentleman in thedining-room. 

Listening outside the door, she caught a sound of puffing and groaning, and, unable to resist the promptings of anxiety and curiosity, turnedthe handle and entered the room. 

The victim was seated in the doctor's big leather arm-chair, lookingvery perturbed and sorry for himself, while Jack and Betty hovered near, alternately offering suggestions for his relief. 

"If you would lie down on the sofa--"

"Or have a cushion to your back--"

"Or a cup of tea--"

"Or wine--"

"Or sal-volatile--"

"Shall I bathe your head with eau de Cologne?"

"Would you put up your feet on a chair?"

The victim had apparently been too much engrossed in his own self-pityto take any notice of the separate suggestions, but now theirreiteration had an irritating effect, for with startling unexpectednesshe thrust forward his big, flushed face, and shouted a loud refusal. 

"No, no, no, no! Do you want to kill me at once? I only want rest anda chance to get my breath again. Tea? Wine? Faugh! I hope I knowbetter than that after the agonies I have had to go through. Sal-volatile! Do you take me for an hysterical old woman? Feet up? Ay, young sir, I expect I shall have a longer dose of that position than Icare for after this adventure! As if I had not had enough of italready--five weeks on my chair in the summer, three in the spring, twomonths last winter. "

From his own account he was evidently a great sufferer, yet inappearance he was stout and healthy enough. Jack made a swiftdiagnosis, and said politely--

"Gout, I suppose, sir? Gout in your feet?"

"And what makes you suppose anything of the kind, sir? I don't carry alabel to advertise my ailments that I am aware of!" cried the oldgentleman, with an irascibility which convinced his audience that he wason the point of another attack. Then suddenly he looked past his twoquestioners, saw Jill's peering face, and went off at another tangent. 

"Oh ho! What's this? I saw you outside in the street. What are youdoing here, may I ask? Come in for a treat to see the rest of theshow?"

"It's my house! I live here!" replied Jill grandiloquently. "I amsorry you are not well. Would you like us to whistle for a cab to takeyou home? It's always nicest to be at home when one is ill. "

It was all very well for Jack to frown dissent. Jill was inclined tothink that the truest wisdom lay in getting the old gentleman out of theway before her father's return, and so escape with one scolding insteadof two. She raised her eyebrows, and mouthed the dumb question, "Willyou tell?" while the victim continued his groans and lamentations. 

"Great mistake ever to leave home in these days. Can't think what I amcoming to next. I merely stooped down to pick up a parcel--simplestthing in the world; done it a score of times before--and over I wentfull on my face. Terrible crash! Terrible crash! Paralysis now, Iexpect, in addition to everything else. Just my luck! A wreck, sir--awreck! And I used to be the strongest man in the regiment. Ah, well, well, that's all over! I must be content to be on the shelf now. "

Betty turned towards the twins with a scrutinising gaze, but they had noeyes for her. A note of real pathos had sounded in the victim's voiceas he bemoaned his lost strength, and their hearts melted before it. Jack stepped boldly forward to make his confession. 

"It was not paralysis, sir. It was--the parcel! We're sorry, --I'msorry, but it was only a joke, and we never thought you would fall. Noone else fell. We kept pulling it away by the string, you know, a _few_inches at a time, so that you did not notice, but you had really fartherand farther to stretch, and it was that that made you topple over. "

He paused, and the old gentleman stopped groaning and stared at him witheyes of crab-like protuberance. The crimson flush deepened on hischeeks, and his white whiskers appeared to bristle with wrath. He wastruly an awe-inspiring object. 

"It was your doing, was it? You pulled away the parcel, did you? I`toppled over, ' did I?" he repeated with awful deliberation. That wasthe lull before the storm, and then it broke in all its fury, and roaredover their heads, so that they gasped and trembled before it. 

The victim went back to his earliest childhood, and thanked Providencethat he at least had known how to behave himself, and desist from silly, idiotic, ridiculous, tom-fool tricks, which would disgrace a monkey onan organ. He projected himself into the future, and prophesied ruin anddestruction for a race which produced popinjays and clowns. Heannounced his intention of dying that very night, so that the crimewhich his hearers had committed might be duly avenged, and in the samebreath would have them to know that he was not the sort of man to beaffected by the tricks of unmannerly cubs, and that General TerenceDigby was match for a hundred such as they, gout or no gout. Gout, indeed! Toppled, forsooth! The world was coming to a pretty pass! Wasit part of the plot, might he ask, to cajole him into the house andpoison him with their sal-volatile tea? This was a case for the police!

Betty gave a little shriek of dismay, but the twins exchanged glances ofsubdued admiration. They liked to hear a thing done really well, andthe General's denunciation was a triumph of its kind. But when asked ifhe were not thoroughly ashamed of himself, Jack showed the courage ofhis opinion. 

"Sorry!" he declared. "I said so before, sir, but not ashamed. Wewouldn't have been bribed to hurt you, and I'll apologise as much as youlike, but we were doing nothing wrong. It was only a joke. "

"Joke!" screamed the old gentleman. "Joke!" He rolled his protrudingeyes towards the ceiling, and gasped and spluttered in disgust. "Isthat what you call a joke? I don't know what this country is coming to!Have you nothing better to do with your time, young sir, than to prowlabout the streets playing monkey tricks on innocent passers-by? I amsorry for you if that is your best idea of enjoyment. "

"Boys will be boys!" said Jack, in his quaint, sententious fashion. "Wecan only be young once, sir, so we might as well make the most of itwhile we can. "

"Besides, we weren't prowling about in the street!" cried Jill, suddenlybursting into the conversation, her determination to keep silent meltingaway before what she was pleased to consider a slight on her dignity. "Mother wouldn't allow such a thing. The Square is private property. We have a key, and she knows we are perfectly safe when we are there. "

"But, by Jove, other people are not! You manage to get into mischiefthough you are railed up!" cried the victim, and a sort of spasm passedover his face, as of a smile violently suppressed. He glared at Jill, from her to Betty, from Betty to Jack, and then let his glance wanderround the room--the big, handsome apartment so sparsely filled with thefurniture of a smaller house. The sideboard looked poor andinsignificant in the recess designed for one twice the size; the fewpictures entirely failed to hide the marks of the places where the lasttenant had hung his more generous supply. The carpet covered only two-thirds of the floor, and was eked out by linoleum. To the mostunobservant eye it must have been evident that the owner of this housewas a man whose means were so limited that the strictest economy wasnecessary in the management of his household. 

"Ha--ho--hum!" coughed the old gentleman suddenly. "Have you ever heardof such a thing as the Employers' Liability Act?"

The girls shook their heads. Jack had glimmering ideas on the subject. 

"It's a sort of--er--of insurance, isn't it? If a workman fellow dropsa sack on your head, the other fellow has to pay up, so he pays theinsurance fellow to do it for him. That's the sort of thing, isn't it, sir?"

"That is the sort of thing, sir, expressed with your natural elegance ofdiction. Does your father contract with an `insurance fellow, ' may Iask?"

"No--why should he? He doesn't employ any workmen. "

"He is responsible for his children, however, who are a hundred timesmore dangerous. How will he like it, do you think, when I send him in abill for my expenses, and the loss of time caused by this accident? Iput a high price on my time, let me tell you. It is of value to otherpeople besides myself--of value to my country, sir, I am proud to think!If I am laid aside by the hand of Providence, that is one matter. It'sa very different thing when it is done of malice intent. What shouldyou say to a hundred pounds a week, eh, what?"

Jill gave a squeal of dismay. Betty set her lips tight, and tried tolook composed and haughty, but she felt a trifle sick. She could hardlybring herself to believe that such a proceeding would be legallypossible, yet the old gentleman had distinctly said that such a lawexisted, and Jack appeared to know something about it. Beneath his airof bravado she could see that the boy shared in her own nervousness, anda wild idea of flinging herself at the stranger's feet and imploring hisclemency was beginning to take shape in her brain, when a sound fromwithout attracted the attention of all. 

It was the click of the doctor's key in the latch, and a moment later heentered the hall, and paused, as his custom was, to read the messageswhich had been pencilled for him on a slate. Then came the rustle ofMary's skirt, a few low-toned words, and the sound of quick stepsapproaching the dining-room door. It was a thrilling moment!

There sat the victim, scarlet-faced, glassy-eyed, scowling more fiercelythan ever, as if in anticipation of the coming conflict. There in a rowstood the three young people, shivering in their respective shoes, forwas it not the greatest of offences to "worry father, " and involve himin needless expenses?

"Sorry to have been out, sir, " cried the doctor, entering the room, andrubbing his hands in brisk, professional manner. "My maid tells me thatyou have had a fall. I hope my young people have looked after you in myabsence. Now, would you prefer to have a talk here, or shall I assistyou into my consulting-room?"

The critical moment had arrived, and with it came a rapturous surprise, for even as the young people gazed, the anger faded out of thestranger's face, the gleaming eyes softened, the lips relaxed, and, asby the waving of a magician's wand, he was suddenly changed into akindly, benevolent old gentleman, who would never condescend to such anindignity as a fit of temper. 

"Thank you, sir, thank you, sir! I fancy I am pretty nearly my own managain. Your son very kindly brought me in, and gave me the opportunityof resting, which was really all I required. And your daughter offeredme refreshments. I--ah--happened to slip, "--the protruding eyes metJack's with a flicker, which, if such a thing could be imagined, wasalmost a wink!--"to slip on the pavement, and a man of my weight feelsthese things more than a boy. Gout, sir, gout in the feet! Your goodson has already diagnosed my complaint, and, no doubt, you will beequally ready. Now, if you could make up a prescription which wouldgive me back my powers of twenty years ago--"

Dr Trevor laughed, while Betty, Jack, and Jill mentally erected amonument, and placed the figure of the victim upon it in everlastinggratitude and affection. 

"I am afraid I can hardly do that, but if you will allow me I will giveyou a draught which will steady your nerves after the shock. How didyou come to fall? Was the pavement slippery with the mud?"

"The London pavements, sir, " answered the old man pompously, "the Londonpavements are a disgrace to civilisation! Don't tell me that I amcrazy. Don't tell me it is the best-paved city in the world. I'veheard that statement before, and I stick to my own opinion. My opinion, I trust, sir, is worth as much as any other man's. It is a wonder thereare not many more accidents. I fell, sir, I would have you know, inconsequence of my own selfish and avaricious instincts, and I attach noblame to anyone but myself!"

"Ah!" exclaimed the doctor significantly. He glanced towards his son, caught his air of embarrassment, and hesitated between amusement andindignation. "Jack--at your old parcel trick again?"

"Boys will be boys, sir, as I have just been reminded. Perhaps we canremember the day when we also-- But what about that draught? Fiveminutes in your consulting-room, if you please, and then Master Jack cankindly get me a cab. I will not trust myself in the streets again to-day. "

Another twinkling glance at the twins, and the old gentleman raisedhimself slowly from his chair, and followed the doctor from the room, leaving the three young people staring at each other breathlessly. 

"This _is_ a day!" cried Jill, with a caper of delight. "We've made twonew friends! The pretty lady says she is coming to call, and we must goto tea, and then this jolly old man. .. What a brick he is! He didn'tmind scolding us himself, but he wouldn't let anyone else do it. Jack, do be awfully nice when you get the cab, and offer to see him home. Tell him how grateful we are. Hint like anything to make him invite usthere!"

"Trust me for that!" cried Jack. 

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

MRS. VANBURGH'S PLANS. 

The pretty lady came to call the very next week. Mrs Trevor and Bettywere busy sewing in the upstairs workroom when the maid brought up thecard, and the first sight of it brought no enlightenment. 

"Mrs Gervase Vanburgh! Goodness! What a fine name! Who can she be?Do you know who it is, mother?"

"Not in the least, dear. One of the neighbours, perhaps. We will godown and see. "

Betty smoothed her hair before the looking-glass, and then as carefullyfluffed it out, shook her skirt free from the little ends of threadwhich would stick to the rough blue cloth, and followed her mother tothe drawing-room, for now that she was over seventeen it was MrsTrevor's wish that she should learn to help in social duties. Half-waydownstairs inspiration dawned. "I believe it's the pretty lady! Jillsaid she was coming!" she whispered breathlessly. The pleasantexpectation brought a flush into her cheeks, and an added animation intoher eyes, so that it was in her most attractive guise that she enteredthe drawing-room in her mother's train. 

Yes! It was the pretty lady and no one else, prettier than ever in hervery smartest clothes, sitting in orthodox fashion, on a stiff uprightchair, card-case in hand, and discussing the weather and the advantagesand disadvantages of the neighbourhood with the sedateness of an oldmarried woman; yet ever and anon as she glanced at Betty there was asomething in her face, --a smile, a tremble, a momentary uplifting of theeyebrow, --which bespoke an unspoken sympathy. "We understand eachother, you and I!" it seemed to say. "This is only a pretence. The_real_ business will begin when we are alone, but--_don't I do itwell_?" Betty twinkled back, and was content to wait her turn, knowingthat it would surely come. 

Yes, Mrs Vanburgh said, she and her husband had only lately returned totheir town house. They had a little place in the country, and spent agreat deal of time with an old uncle who was an invalid, and very fondof young society. No! She did not care for town life, but for herhusband's sake she made the best of it for a few months in the year. The days seemed very long when one was obliged to turn on the lightsbefore four o'clock. Oh yes, she was fond of reading--sometimes! Butone seemed to need some more active occupation. She did a good deal ofwood-carving. Did Miss Trevor go in for wood-carving? Would she careto take it up? It would be so very nice to have a companion, and allthe tools were lying in readiness just across the road. 

"Thank you so much. I'd love it!" cried Betty, all pink with excitementand pleasure. "I take a few classes still--music and French--but myafternoons are mostly free. I could come any time. "

"To-day?" queried the pretty lady, raising her pretty eyebrows eagerly. "Now? Come back with me and have tea, and I'll show you my carvings, and you can decide what you will try first. "

It was all very irregular and unconventional, because, of course, theproper thing would have been for Mrs Vanburgh to have waited quietlyuntil Mrs Trevor had returned her call, and even for a judicious periodafter that, before sending a formal invitation. Nevertheless MrsTrevor had not the heart to interfere. She remembered her own youth, and the rapture which it had then afforded her to be able to do things_at once_; she saw the radiance in Betty's face, and realised that hervisitor was only a girl herself, so that when Betty turned towards her aflushed, appealing face, she smiled indulgently, and said, "Certainly, dear! It is very kind of Mrs Vanburgh to ask you. Run upstairs andput on your hat. "

Betty lost no time in taking advantage of this permission, and in tenminutes' time the extraordinary thing came to pass, that she and thepretty lady were walking along the Square, chatting together as if theyhad been friends of years' standing. 

Mrs Vanburgh paused upon the threshold to give some instructions to theservant, then escorted Betty straight upstairs to a big, bare room onthe third floor, which she described as her "lair. "

"No one ever sits here but myself, and I can make as much mess as Ilike. It's lovely!" she explained, and forthwith turned on the electriclight, and poked up the fire, for the atmosphere was distinctly chilly. It was certainly not a tidy apartment, no one could have said that forit, but it was extremely interesting from a girl's point of view. Thewood-carving bench occupied the place of honour before the window; butthere were evidences that the owner possessed more hobbies than one, fora piece of copper was in process of being beaten into a pattern ofpomegranates and leaves, a work-table was littered with odds and ends, and on an old black tray was a weird medallion portrait of a gentleman, manufactured out of plasticine, a lump of which lay by its side. 

Young Mrs Vanburgh held out the tray towards Betty with a dramaticgesture. 

"That's my husband! Let me introduce you--Mr Gervase Vanburgh--MissTrevor! Would you believe, to look at him there, that he is quite thehandsomest man you ever beheld?"

Betty looked at the grey profile, and sniggered helplessly. 

"I'm afraid I never should!"

"No, it's horrid! I'm just beginning modelling, and it's not a success. I suppose it's because I can't draw well enough. What _is wrong_, doyou think?"

"Everything!" Betty felt inclined to say, but politely compromised bypointing out the most flagrant offences. 

"The ear is on a level with the mouth. The eye is perched upon a mound, instead of being in a hollow; he has no nostril, and oh! Water on thebrain! He must have, with all that bump in front!"

"Goodness! What a critic! You might be one of my very own sisters!"cried Mrs Vanburgh, laughing. She looked at the profilescrutinisingly. "There's one comfort--it can soon be altered. There!I'll take a bit off his head. It's the neatest shape in the worldreally. I don't think I am born to be a sculptor. For one thing, Ishould never have the patience to clean my nails. This plasticine getsinto all the nooks and crannies, and simply _won't_ come out!"

Betty had no sympathy to spare for nails. She was too much occupied inconsidering another problem. Mrs Vanburgh looked almost as young asherself, and was far more spontaneous and lively in manner; it seemedimpossible to imagine her the mistress of this stately house, and thewife of the handsomest man in the world! There was all the natural aweof the unmarried for the married girl in her voice as she said--

"It is so strange to hear you talk of your husband. You don't look abit married. Doesn't it feel very--queer?"

Mrs Vanburgh laughed happily. 

"It feels very--nice! I have only one trouble in life, and that is thatI am too happy. Yes, seriously, it does trouble me! It's so difficultnot to grow selfish when one is always petted, and praised, andconsidered first of all. I want to be of some use in the world. Myhusband says I am of use to him, and of course that's my first duty, butit's not enough. When I was married a dear old lady wrote me a letter, and said that marriage often became `the selfishness of two, ' and I dofeel that it is true. It's no credit to be good to someone who isdearer than yourself, and giving a few subscriptions is no credit eitherwhen you are rich; it was a very different matter when you scraped themout of your dress allowance. I've thought over heaps of things that Icould do, and at last I've decided--sit down, and I'll tell you allabout it! This is the comfiest chair. It's so nice getting to know youfirst, because you can help. Ages ago I read a story by Sir WalterBesant, _Katherine Regina_ was the name, I think. I forget what it wasabout, and all about it, except that one character was a poor governessliving in a dreary London `Home, ' knowing nobody, and having absolutelynowhere to go in her leisure hours, because of course she could notafford entertainments. One day she had a desperately miserable fit, andsaid to one of her companions--I always remembered those words--`Isthere no woman in all the length and breadth of this great city who hasa thought for us, or who cares enough for us to open the house to us fora few hours a week?' I made up my mind then and there, that if I everlived in a city and had a home of my own, I would share it with homelesspeople. I asked my husband if I might have an `At Home' every Saturdayafternoon, and he said I could ask everyone I liked, so long as I didnot expect him to put in an appearance. So!"--she clasped her handsexcitedly, and her eyes flashed--"this very week I drove round to threeseparate Governesses' Homes and left cards of invitation--`Mrs GervaseVanburgh will be at home every Saturday afternoon between November 12and December 20 from three to seven o'clock, and will be pleased to seeany ladies who may care to call upon her. ' What do you think of thatfor a start?"

Betty stared in amazement. "Governesses! Three Homes! Three to seven!How _dreadful_! What will you do with them?"

"Oh! I've lots of plans. I'll have a scrumptious light, cakey tea inthe drawing-room, and in the dining-room a sort of cold high-tea as theyhave in the North, with chickens, and ham, and potted shrimps, andsandwiches, and all sorts of good things for those who can stay untilsix, and sit down to a regular meal. And I'll have nice books andmagazines in the library, and easy-chairs drawn up to the fire; and uphere, anyone who likes can practise wood-carving, or copper beating, orany of my little hobbies. I'll throw open the whole house, and let eachone do what she likes best; and you shall help me! I've got anothergirl coming on Saturday, and between the three of us we ought to be ableto manage. I don't ask you to come, you see, --I command! I need yourhelp. "

Betty hesitated between pride and dismay. 

"I can't imagine myself entertaining a party of govies! I am stillunder their thrall, remember. You are emancipated, so it's differentfor you. But I'll come, of course I'll come. How many visitors do youexpect?"

"That's just what cook asked, and I hadn't a notion what to say. Idon't suppose we shall have many the first time. Only the enterprisingspirits will come, but when they go back and say what a good time theyhave had, the numbers will increase. Do you think perhaps--twentyaltogether?"

"Say a dozen!" said Betty, and Nan's face lengthened withdisappointment. 

"Only a dozen? Oh, surely there must be more than that! Just think;there are three Homes, and I expect forty or fifty living in each. I amquite sure there will be twenty. I shall provide for twenty-five, to beon the safe side. "

She bent forward to poke the fire once more, and Betty's eyes roamed tothe white overmantel, which was divided into five panels, each of whichcontained a vignette portrait of a girl's head, printed in a delicateshade of brown. She had seen much the same kind of thing in furniturewarehouses again and again, but in this case the pictured faces lackedthe pretty prettiness which was the usual characteristic, and wereunmistakably portraits of living people. She looked at her hostess withan eager question. 

"Your sisters?"

"Yes; isn't it lovely? They clubbed together and gave it to me for awedding present. It feels a little bit as if they were here, to look upfrom my work and see their faces. That's the eldest--Maud; my Maud!She and I were always together. She is married, and has a dear littlegirl. That's Lilias, the next eldest--the beauty of the family. "

"Ah!" sighed Betty enviously, "she _is_ pretty. How lovely to be likethat! Is she married too?"

"No. "

"Engaged?"

"No. "

"How funny! I should have thought she would have been married the firstof all. Didn't everyone fall in love with her at first sight?"

"Yes, I think they did, but at second sight they seem to have preferredMaud and--me?"

Mrs Vanburgh did not seem disposed to discuss her sister's loveaffairs. She pointed to the next portrait, that of a dark, interesting-looking girl with hair parted down the middle and smoothed plainly down, in marked contrast to her sister's curls and pompadours. 

"That's Elsie! She has views, and objects to being like the commonherd. She writes articles _for_ papers, not _in_ them, abusingeverything that is, and praising up everything that isn't. Gervase, myhusband, says she will do very well when she learns sense. She is adear old raven, and I miss her croak more than you would believe. That's Agatha. She's just--Agatha! A good-natured dear, alwaysterribly in earnest about the smallest thing. Christabel is the baby, which means the head of the family. She is coming out next year, andmeans to outshine us all. I will tell you lots of stories about thegirls and the jolly times we had at home, and soon I hope you will meetsome of them here. Sisters are such comforts, aren't they?"

Betty mumbled an inarticulate something which might have been an assentor the reverse, and a servant entering with a tea-tray, the conversationturned to less personal topics. There was never any lack of anything tosay, however, for, strangers as they were, the two girls chattered awaywithout a break until the clock struck six, at which sound Betty leaptfrom her seat like another Cinderella, and turned hastily towards thedoor. 

"Six! Oh, and I had Pam's music-lesson at half-past five! How awful ofme to forget! You were so interesting, and I was enjoying myself somuch. I must fly!"

"It's no use, I'm afraid. You can't put the clock back. There's onecomfort--Pam will forgive you! That's the little one, I suppose, withthe kitten face. I must get to know her soon. "

Mrs Vanburgh tripped downstairs by Betty's side, and shook hands withthe geniality of a lifelong friendship. 

"Remember Saturday!" she cried. "Three o'clock punctually, and bringall your stores of small talk with you, for the first half-hour. "

Betty ran across the darkened street and let herself into her own house, aglow with pleasurable excitement. Life looked quite a different thingin the last few hours, wherein a friend and a vocation had alike sprunginto being. After all, it was a delightful old world! She would nevergrumble again, since at any moment such delightful surprises mightarise. 

The door swung open. How cold and grey the hall appeared after theglowing richness of Mrs Vanburgh's carpets and hangings! Betty made alittle grimace at the linoleum, and lifting her eyes was suddenly awareof a wrathful figure confronting her from the threshold of the dining-room--Jill, standing with arms akimbo, flushed cheeks, and flashingeyes. 

"So you have deigned to come back, have you? What business had you togo to tea with her at all, I should like to know? She's my friend! Iknew her first! What right had you to go poking yourself forward?"

"I didn't poke. She asked me! Mother can tell you that she did. I'mgoing again on Saturday. "

Jill's wrath gave way to an overwhelming anxiety. 

"And me? And me? I am sure she asked me too. "

"No, she didn't. It's a grown-up party. She'll ask you another timewith Pam. She said she wanted to know Pam. "

It was the last straw to be classed with Pam, a child of eight summers!Jill stuttered with mortified rage. 

"S-neak! Just like you! Mark my word, Elizabeth Trevor, _I'll be evenwith you about this_!"

CHAPTER NINE. 

A VISIT TO THE VICTIM. 

During the next week Betty's thoughts were continually winging acrossthe Square to her new friend, Mrs Vanburgh, though her own time was sofully occupied, that, with the exception of a sudden encounter in thestreet, they did not see anything of each other until the great Saturdayarrived. 

Meantime it rankled in Jill's mind that she had been unfairly treated, and, in consequence, she was constantly endeavouring to hit on somescheme which would at once vindicate her own importance and put Betty'sadventure in the shade. General Digby, as a new and strikingpersonality in her small circle of acquaintances, naturally suggestedhimself as a fitting object for the enterprise, and she lost no time inconsulting her ally. 

"I say, Jack, when you saw the `Victim' home the other night, did younotice the address?"

"What do you take me for, silly? I have eyes, haven't I? Of course Inoticed it. "

"You may have eyes, but you certainly haven't a memory. Do you happento remember where it was?"

"No, I don't, but I wrote it down in my pocket-book, so I could soonfind out if I wanted to. Why?"

"Because I think we ought to call and ask how he is. "

"Father says he's all right except for his gout. "

"I know--but it would be polite to call. Mother always does, even whenshe knows they are better. And as we were the--er--what do you callit?--cause of the accident--"

"Innocent?"

"No, that's not it! A much finer word--un--un--_unwitting_!--that's it, so it's all the more proper that we should inquire. How far off is it?Could we meet and go together after school this afternoon?"

"It's near enough, as far as that goes--one of those swagger flats inPrince's Square. I suppose we could manage all right. Will you tellmother about it?"

"Not till we get back. I am sure she would think it very nice and kindof us, but she'd want me to put on best things, and worry about my hair. I wish I'd been born a savage! I do so loathe being bothered aboutclothes. "

"Never mind. No one would think to look at you that you ever botheredabout them at all, " quoth Jack, with somewhat unflattering sympathy. "I'll wait for you at the corner of Prince's Square. I'm not going tomeet all those sniggering girls if I know it. "

So it was arranged, and Jill swelled with importance for the rest of theday, longing for four o'clock to arrive, and set her free from herduties. 

Pam went to the door with her sister after lunch, and stood shiveringupon the top step while they exchanged farewells. She herself attendedonly the morning school, and was apt to find the afternoons ratherlonely when the twins were out, and Betty was absorbed in her studies. 

"Come back quickly, " she pleaded. "Do come back quickly, and 'muse me!"and Jill nodded a bright assent. 

"I'll amuse you finely--when I come!"

She pranced off, tossing back her hair, and swinging her satchel to andfro, while Pam looked after her with admiring envy. How lovely to beold like that--quite old--old enough to do your own hair, and walk toschool by yourself! Pam heaved another sigh, and glanced wistfully upand down the Square--the look of a captive who longs to escape. Apoliceman was strolling along his beat. Emily and Hannah were takingtheir places in the old-fashioned barouche preparatory to starting ontheir afternoon amble. Just across the road old "All a-growing all a-blowing" was standing by his barrow, loudly urging a passer-by topurchase one of his plants. 

Pam looked longingly at the branching palms as his guttural accents cameto her ear--

"Buy a palm, lidy, won't you, lidy? Very cheap--cheaper than you couldbuy 'em anywhere in the City. If you've got such a thing as an olddress or a pair of trousers, of the master's, I'd allow you 'ansome forthem. I'd rather have clothes nor money. I'm a married man, lidy, witha fam'ly of children--"

"Pam, Pam, " cried Mrs Trevor's voice, "don't stand out there, darling. It's far too cold. Come in here to me. "

Pam obediently shut the door, and settled down to the afternoon dutiesof plain sewing and practice, which her soul abhorred. It wascharacteristic of her that she never rebelled against authority, norexpressed her distaste in words. A meek, uncomplaining little martyr, she sat perched on the piano-stool, wrestling with the "Blue Bells ofScotland, " the while the wildest rebellion surged within her soul. 

"I wish pianos had never been born! I wish I'd been made a boy. WhenI'm a lidy, " (unconscious intonation of "All a-blowing!") "I'll have nopianos in the house, nor no needles, and my little girls shall 'musethemselves however they like. The--Blue--Bells--of--Scot--land. .. Itdoesn't go a bit nice in the bass! Don't believe I shall ever get itright if I live a hundred thousand years?"

The moment school was over Jill made a rush for the dressing-room, scrambled into her outdoor clothes, and hurried to the appointedmeeting-place, where Jack found her a few minutes later. It was alreadydusk, and they set off at a brisk trot towards the mansions in whichGeneral Digby's flat was situated, in great hopes of finding thatgentleman at home and disengaged. 

"It's too damp for him to be out. Gout's a kind of rheumatism, and thatalways has to be kept dry, " Jill declared learnedly. "He's sure to bein, but I've got a card, just in case. It's a correspondence one cutdown, and I've printed our names on it, and `Kind inquiries' in thecorner, like mother puts. It's fine! When I cough it will mean that Idon't know what to say next, so you must go on while I think. If heasks us to stay to tea, we must say we can't, until he begs us again. "

"But suppose he didn't--that would be a pretty sell! I shan't doanything so silly, " said cautious Jack. "I'll accept at once. "

"Well--perhaps. But it's politer to make a fuss. Is it a man who opensthe door, or a woman?"

"A man--looks like an old soldier himself. "

"What's the proper way to tell him our names?"

"Jack and Mary Trevor, of course. "

"It isn't! Miss Mary Trevor and Master Jack Trevor, if you please!"

"If you're miss, I'm mister. I'm not going to be called `master, ' as ifI were a kid!"

"All right, then--Miss and Mr Trevor. I'll speak, because I'm thelady, and give him the card to carry up. "

Jack was not at all anxious to take the lead, so he assented by means ofthe usual grunt, and when the door of the flat was reached, and the man-servant appeared in response to a furious onslaught on the electricbell, he stood by silently while Jill conducted operations. 

"Does a gentleman called General Digby live here?"

"He does, madam. "

Jill gave a toss to her saucy head. She had never before been addressedas "madam, " and the sensation was distinctly agreeable. 

"We want to see him, please. "

The butler looked in hesitating fashion from one of the strange visitorsto the other--Jill with her elfin locks, shabby hat and thick woollengloves; Jack with his hands thrust deep into his pockets, his school capat the back of his head. 

"I am not sure, madam, that the General is receiving this afternoon. "

"Then please take in my card and inquire, " returned Jill with a burst ofdignity, which surprised herself and rilled Jack with admiration. 

The butler also looked distinctly impressed, though the card itself, when produced from the recesses of Jill's pocket, had somewhat lost itsfirst crispness and beauty. He placed it on a silver salver anddisappeared down the passage, while the twins peered curiously throughthe doorway. 

Old guns, swords, and curious-looking Eastern weapons hung against thewall; stags' heads peered over the different doorways; a great glass-case of stuffed birds stood on a table. "Hidjus!" thought Jill. "Ripping!" thought Jack, his mind turning longingly to the excitingscenes of sport in which these trophies had been captured. He had timeto examine them pretty thoroughly before the servant returned, but whenhe did make his appearance he brought with him the desired answer. TheGeneral was "at home, " and would be pleased to receive Miss and MrTrevor forthwith. 

CHAPTER TEN. 

THE GENERAL'S STORY. 

Jill stepped forward, tossing her head, as though to imply that therehad never been any doubt about her welcome, and Jack followed closelybehind, while the servant led the way down two long passages running atright angles to each other, and threw open a door at the end, announcingthe visitors' names in stentorian tones. 

A strong whiff of cigar smoke filled the air, and there sat the Generalon a crimson velvet arm-chair, which was hardly redder than his owncomplexion. His protruding eyes looked as glassy as ever, and his greylocks were ruffled at the top until he bore a ludicrous likeness to aparoquet. He held the crumpled card in his hand, and greeted hisvisitors with a chuckle of amusement. 

"Well, sir. Well, ma'am--`kind enquiries, ' eh? Come to see how thepoor old man is faring after his fall?"

"Yes! We wanted to know. We thought it would be polite, as we were theun--er--unwitting causers of your accident. "

Jill brought out the right word with fine effect, whereupon the Generalmade great play with his outstanding tufts of eyebrow, pretending tofrown, and look ferocious. 

"Un--witting, indeed! If that is your idea of unwitting, I should liketo know how you would define deliberate intent! I'll forgive you thistime, but let me catch you at any of your tricks again, and the fat willbe in the fire! Sit down--sit down. It's not often an old bachelorlike myself has the honour of entertaining a young lady visitor. No manhas had better friends, or more of them, than Terence Digby, but thereare precious few remaining nowadays. I've left them behind me in many alonely grave, without a stick or stone to show the resting-place of someof the bravest fellows the world has ever known. It's lonely work tooutlive one's best friends. "

"Have you been in many wars, sir?" asked Jack, quick to scent a story ofadventure. He dropped his hat on the floor and wriggled back in hischair, the rebellious locks of hair which his sisters christened"Cetewayo, " after the Zulu chief, sticking up rampantly at the back ofhis head. "Have you been in any real, proper wars?"

"I should think I have, sir. Many wars, and tough and serious wars atthat, though a whipper-snapper like you would not know their names, andthe English newspapers sandwich the news of them in a corner--with asmall headline of `Border War. ' It's the Border Wars which keep theEmpire together, let me tell you, sir--the Border Wars which entail themost self-sacrificing and thankless work. There's no honour and gloryabout them. The people you are fighting for don't even take the troubleto find out where you are, or what the trouble is about. Not that thereought to be any hardship about that to the true soldier. He fights forhis King! That is enough for him!"

A curious softening of expression came over the fierce old face as hespoke the last sentence. The young people both noticed it, and dimlysuspected a deeper meaning to the words, but they were in no mood formoralising. 

"I should prefer the honour and glory, " Jill declared boldly. "I'd hateto be sent to fight savages in pokey out-of-the-way places where nobodywas watching and saying, `England expects!' I could be mostterrifically brave, if I knew it would be in the papers in the morning, and I should be a hero when I got home; but I'd be scared to death upamong great lonely mountains with the feeling that nobody cared. Wereyou ever frightened, General Digby?"

"Soldiers are never frightened. You are only a girl, " interrupted Jackindignantly, but his host did not agree with his conclusions. 

"She may be a girl, but she knows what she is talking about. Sheunderstands, because she is a girl, perhaps. Women have that facultyborn in them. Banners and flags, and bands playing patriotic airs, andthe feeling that the world is watching, have an inspiring effect on themost timid of men. Who told you that a soldier was never afraid, youngsir? Whoever it was did not know what he was talking about. Yes, Ihave been afraid, deadly afraid, many times over, and no man dared tocall Terence Digby a coward. To camp with a handful of men among thegreat lonely mountains, as your sister so aptly puts it, never knowingwhen or how the attack may fall--an attack of devils rather than men; toknow that if you are taken torture will be your portion, not death, --there is nothing to dread in dying for one's country, --that shakes thenerves of the strongest man! I hear people talking about modernwarfare, and saying it is the hardest trial of bravery to fight anunseen foe three or four miles away. Well, well! I wonder if they haveever seen a rush of one of those warlike hill-tribes, and stood waitingto receive it as I have had to do times and again!"

"Did you kill lots of men--yourself? How many have you killed?" Jackinquired eagerly, but the General refused to be specific. 

"I prefer not to think. It's not a pleasant recollection. When theworld is a little older, let us hope we shall find some better way ofsettling a quarrel than seeing who can kill off the most men. What areyou going to be when you are a man, Mr Jack? Going in for aprofession?"

Jack's face fell. For personal questions, especially questionsreferring to his studies, he had a strong distaste. He wriggled on hischair, and mumbled between his lips--

"Trying for a scholarship. Half fees for the next three years. If Iget it father will send me on to Cambridge. He wants me to be a doctor, and help him in the practice when he gets old. "

"And you?"

Jack shrugged his shoulders. 

"I'd like to be a surgeon. It would be fine patching people up, settingtheir bones, and trying things no one had dared to do before; but Icouldn't stand driving round every day to look after their wretchedcolds, and vaccinate the babies. I'd like to be an army doctor best ofall. "

"Humph! Would you! Much you know about it. I fancy you'd soon bethankful to take on the babies in exchange. Well, I've only one pieceof advice to give you, my boy: never be persuaded to take up a careerinto which you cannot throw your whole heart and soul. You areresponsible for your life's work, and will have to account for it someday. Don't make things harder by drifting into uncongenialsurroundings. You look to me like a young fellow who might drift. Tooeasy-going by half!"

Jack flushed uncomfortably. He hated being criticised, especially whenthe criticism was true, as conscience proclaimed the present indictmentto be. There came to him every now and then moments of illumination, when, as if a flashlight was suddenly played over the future, herealised that he would soon be a man, with a man's duties andresponsibilities to himself and to others, and that these years ofpreparation were his training-ground for the fight, concerning thespending of which he would either rejoice or sorrow all his life long. At such moments the blood tingled in his veins, and he felt strong to doall things, and deny himself all things, if only the goal could bereached; but the vision soon faded, and he relapsed once more intocareless, happy-go-lucky ways, caring more for a "lark" than for anysolid gain, present or to come. 

The old man stared at the boy for a moment, --seemed as if about to addsomething to his denunciation, but changed his mind, and addressed Jillinstead. 

"And you, missy? Girls have professions nowadays as well as theirbrothers. Have you any special vocation in view?"

Jill shook her pretty shaggy head. 

"Oh no, I'm just going to be a plain lady!" whereat the General threwhimself back in his chair with a stentorian laugh. 

"No, that you never will! That is, fortunately, out of your own hands. You will have to make another choice, my dear. "

Jill showed her white teeth in a smile, wholly unembarrassed by thecompliment. 

"I mean, I shall get married as soon as I leave school. I should hateto have to make money for myself. I'll marry a rich man with lots ofdogs and horses, and then I can enjoy myself without any bother. "

The General drew his eyebrows together and stared scrutinisingly at thegirlish figure seated on the high-backed oak chair. Flowing locks, short petticoats, heavy boots, woollen gloves--just a bit of aschoolgirl in the hobbledehoy stage in which feminine instincts seemdormant--and the ambitions are more those of a boy than a girl. ButJill was going to be a woman some day, and a fascinating woman into thebargain, with all the power for good or evil over the lives of otherswhich such fascination brings. The General shook his head in warningfashion. 

"Don't say that, my girl. Never say or think a thing like that again!You are only a child, but you'll grow up. It's wonderful how quicklyyou young things spring up. You'll be a woman before you can say, `JackRobinson!' and there's no worse sin a woman can commit than to look uponmarriage as a mere profession, an easy way of securing board andlodging. It's not only ruining her own life--it's ten times worse--forit ruins another into the bargain. When I was a young fellow I asked agirl to marry me--the only girl I ever did ask--and she wouldn't look atme. She was a poor girl, and I had lots of money, but she was honestwith me all the same, and I've been grateful to her all my life. I'vebeen a lonely old fellow, but it would have been a thousand times worseto have had a wife who did not love me! You put it out of your head, little girl, that you are going to sell yourself for all the horses anddogs in creation. "

"Um--" said Jill vaguely. 

She had scented a love--story, and with the inherent curiosity of hersex was dying to hear more about it. 

"And what became of the girl? Did she marry--someone else?"

"Which girl? Oh--I suppose so! I went out to India and lost sight ofher. I did not want to see her again. I hope she settled down with agood fellow who could take care of her. Hullo, what's this?"

The man-servant had entered the room with a tray, which he proceeded toplace on a table by Jill's side. It contained the usual paraphernaliafor afternoon tea, but it appeared that the General did not as a ruleindulge in this meal, hence his astonishment at its appearance. 

"Thought the young lady would like some, eh? Quite right--quite right. You keep me up to my duties as usual! Johnson has been with me for thelast thirty years!" he explained to his guests. "We fought together inthe East, and I should get on badly without him nowadays. Now, my dear, help yourself. You are the lady of the party, so you must preside. "

Jill pulled off her gloves, gave a surreptitious lick to an ink-stain onthe second finger of her right hand, rubbed it dry on the side of herdress, and proceeded to do the honours with equal self-possession andenjoyment. If Betty could see her now! A real General with a man-servant to wait upon him! It was a hundred times more important andexciting than Mrs Vanburgh and her governesses!

"Have you got any medals--Victoria Crosses and things?" she asked, witha view to adding point to her account of the interview, and the Generalgave a loud guffaw of amusement. 

"A selection of Victoria Crosses! Eh, what? No, I am sorry to say Ihave not; only one or two medals, such as any man might possess who hasserved the same number of years. Where are they? In a drawer in mybedroom, of course! You don't expect me to hang them up on the wall, doyou?"

"Yes, I do. I should! Where everyone would see and ask questions aboutthem. I'd wear them, too, whenever I possibly could!" cried Jill, unabashed, and once more the General shook his head and exclaimed--

"Woman, woman!" in a tone of tragic significance. 

When the meal was over, however, he yielded to Jack's entreaties, andescorted his visitors into the adjoining bedroom, where various warliketrophies reposed with the medals in the drawers of an old cabinet. Theboy's interest was intense, but Jill soon wearied and turned to inspectthe general furnishing of the room. It was very bare and plain--anarrow camp bed, a few chairs, and a dressing-table--bare of everythingbut the absolute necessities of toilet, and those of the simplestdescription. One saw the old soldier in every arrangement, but it wason the opposite corner of the room that Jill's eyes rested with thegreatest astonishment. 

On the wall hung a picture which she did not remember having seenbefore, representing a group of Eastern beggars, and in the foregroundthe figure of Christ with a beautiful, earnest face--a _young_ face, notthe worn and haggard representation so often seen--talking to one whosehandsome robes showed him to be a person of position, who stood withhanging head and pained, disappointed expression. Beneath the picturestood a kneeling-chair with a pile of devotional books on the ledge. The whole effect was that of a quiet corner or "closet, " as the Apostlecalls it, and Jill was still staring at it with distended eyes when theGeneral turned round and discovered her. 

"You appear to be astonished by the sight of my corner! Why?" heinquired, and a more observant listener might have discovered a certaintension and anxiety in his tone, but Jill noticed nothing, and answeredwith the brutal candour of youth--

"I--I did not think you were--like that!"

"Ah! Why not? Because I lost my temper, and railed at you the otherday. Eh, what?"

Jack and Jill gave a simultaneous exclamation of denial, for there hadbeen a note of real pain and shame in the old man's voice which wasquick to reach their hearts. In truth, they had thought no less of theGeneral for his expression of temper. It was only what was to beexpected under the circumstances, and he had been a brick in defendingthem from their father's anger. It was difficult to explain the realreason of their surprise at the discovery of his Christianity. Onecould not say, for instance, "because your face is so red, and your eyesare so fierce, and your voice is so loud, and your manner ofconversation so abrupt and startling; because you have been a slayer ofmen, and have lived a life of storm and adventure, " yet it was in truththe contrast to the pale, anaemic type which young people instinctivelypicture in a devotee which caused the astonishment in their minds. Theyremained silent, hanging their heads, while the General continuedsadly--

"Well, well, I don't wonder! That tongue of mine has dishonoured me ahundred times before now, but, bad specimen as I am, I should be ahundred times worse but for the time spent in that corner. Have youseen that picture before?"

Jill shook her head. 

"No, it is not half so well-known as it deserves to be! `Christ and theYoung Ruler, ' who went away sorrowful `because he had greatpossessions. ' It has never entered your head, I suppose, to pray to bepreserved from prosperity, or _in_ prosperity, if you like that better?Of course not! Precious few people ever do, yet the temptations ofprosperity are fifty times more subtle, if they are less pressing, thanthose of poverty. I tell you, sir, when a man is young and strong, andfeels the blood coursing in his veins, and when his balance at thebanker's allows him to do pretty well as he chooses, it is preciousdifficult to realise that he needs any help, human or Divine. Evennow--selfish old beggar that I am!--I have no one's convenience but myown to consider, and if I want a thing there's no end of a fuss if Idon't get it in the twinkling of an eye. So I keep that picture thereto remind me that my money is only lent to me to use for the good ofothers. Christ, the Captain! I am here to obey His orders!"

As he spoke he lifted his hand to his brow in stiff military salute, andover the fierce old face came the same wonderful softening which thetwins had noticed a few minutes before. 

They were speechless with embarrassment, as young things often are whena conversation suddenly takes a serious turn; but when they had takentheir leave, with many invitations to repeat their visit, the samethought lingered in the mind of each as they made their way homeward. 

"Fancy him turning out so--good!" cried Jill wonderingly. "He reallyalmost--preached. I _was_ surprised!"

"Humph!" returned Jack vaguely, for the figure of the old soldiersaluting his Captain had made too deep an impression on his heart to belightly discussed. "Christ, the Captain!" The idea appealed to hisboyish instincts, and awoke a new ambition. Hitherto he had looked uponreligion as a thing apart from his own life, the monopoly of women andclergymen, whose business it was; now for the first time it appealed tohim as a fine and manly virtue. 

Sitting by his lonely fireside, General Digby reproached himself for hislack of influence on his new friends. He would have been a happy man ifhe had known that by God's grace he had that afternoon planted a seedfor God in Jack Trevor's careless heart. "Christ, the Captain!" To thelast day of the boy's life he never forgot those words, nor the pictureof the old soldier with his hand raised to the salute. 

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

BETTY AND CYNTHIA MEET. 

"Jill, do you know where my green check blouse has gone? I can't findit anywhere. "

"How should I know? I haven't taken it--wouldn't be seen in the horridold thing! Why are you worrying if it has disappeared? I thought yousaid the other day that it was too shabby to wear any more?"

"So I did, but I want the buttons to put on a new blouse. It washanging up in my cupboard last week. "

"I expect it's there still, only you can't see it because it's hiddenaway behind your dresses. What is far more important is my umbrella. Somebody has eaten it, I believe--it's simply _gone_!"

"You have left it at school again. You are always losing yourumbrellas. "

"People steal them, I suppose, because they are so beautiful! Alpaca--three and eleven! Mother says it's no use giving me a silk because I'mnot careful. That's bad reasoning! I should be careful if I had asilk. But it's not my fault this time. I know I brought it home, because there was an apple inside it which Norah gave me in prep. I ateit last night, and this morning the brolley has vanished. It's hardlines, for I shall get a rowing if it doesn't turn up, and it isn't myfault a bit. "

"Oh, I expect you'll find it all right. It's so tiresome, because thebuttons exactly match this blouse, and I want it for Saturday, " returnedBetty, too much absorbed in her own affairs to have any sympathy tospare for Jill's loss. All the week long she lived in the thought ofSaturday, and when at long last the day arrived she could hardly waituntil three o'clock, so anxious was she to be at her post. 

Mrs Vanburgh came to meet her at the door of the dining-room, lookingflushed and excited. 

"Come in here!" she said. "We are beginning to set out the table, soyou are just in time. I want to have everything ready by the half-hour. "

"Who are `we, ' I wonder?" was Betty's mental question as she crossed thethreshold, and the next moment brought with it a shock of surprise, for, standing in the middle of the room, her hair shining like an aureolaround her head, stood no less a person than the Pampered Pet herself. Aplate of cakes was held in one hand, and a plate of bread-and-butter inthe other, and she stood stock still, staring at the new-comer, apparently as much surprised to recognise Betty as Betty was torecognise herself. 

"This is my friend Cynthia Alliot; this is my friend Betty Trevor!"cried Mrs Vanburgh, introducing the two girls with an easy wave of thehand. "She can't shake hands, poor dear, so you'll have to take thewill for the deed. Where shall we put those plates? There doesn't seemmuch room left. "

There did not, indeed! Betty stared in amazement at the noble feastwhich had been provided for the expected guests. The dining-table wasprofusely decorated with flowers, which looked especially beautiful atthis dull, wintry season. Dishes of cold fowls, ham, and tongue, wereflanked by every imaginable description of cakes, both small and large. Different sorts of jam were dotted here and there among the largerdishes; tea and coffee cups were ranged at the farther end. It was, infact, a North Country high-tea of the most complete and temptingdescription. 

"Light refreshments are to be served in the drawing-room. This is forthose who can stay on for several hours. My husband is going to dine athis club, so we can keep the dear things as long as they are happy, "said Nan with a gush, while the two girls smiled at each other with shyfriendliness. 

"Now I shall get to know them! Now they may get to like me, and ask meto sit with them in their schoolroom, " thought lonely Cynthia longingly. 

"The Pet herself! She _is_ pretty! Miles would admire her more thanever; and oh, what a blouse, and I thought mine was quite nice!" sighedBetty dolorously. 

Both Mrs Vanburgh and her friend were very simply attired, but with adainty finish and elegance from which Betty's home-made garment was veryfar removed. She felt plain and dowdy beside them, and her spiritssuffered in consequence. Superior people may despise her for so doing, but they don't understand how a girl feels, so their opinion is notworth having. At seventeen it takes real grace to be a contentedCinderella, and poor Betty did not at all enjoy the position. 

It was difficult, however, for any companions of Nan Vanburgh to bedepressed for long together, so bright was she, so radiant, so brisk, friendly, and confidential. The girls were sent flying hither andthither until all the preparations were finished, then--

"Let's go out into the hall, and pretend to be governesses, and walk inagain, to see how the effect strikes us, " she cried; and out theyrushed, like a trio of merry schoolgirls, drawing their faces intoexpressions of abnormal gravity, to march back again solemn and slow. 

"Pray be seated. You must be exhausted after your long walk. To whatcan I assist you?"

"The breast of a fowl, please, and a portion of ham; a cup of tea and afew hot muffins-- Goodness me, are you going to talk to the poorcreatures like that? They _will_ be daunted!" replied Cynthia, all in abreath. She was not at all proper, Betty was glad to see, but as fullof fun as an ordinary commonplace girl. "What are you going to talk tothem about?" she demanded of her hostess, who shook her head in somewhathelpless fashion, and replied--

"I don't know! I'm hoping for inspiration at the last moment, andeating is a grand resource! Ply them well with muffins till the ice isbroken--"

At this moment the conversation was interrupted by the sound of anelectric bell, upon hearing which Mrs Vanburgh uttered a sharpexclamation of dismay, and rushed for the hall. Her two assistantsfollowed, but even they in their schoolgirl stage could not keep up withthe pace at which she literally flew up the staircase. Her feet seemedhardly to touch the ground; she sprang up two steps at a time, cryingcontinuously, "Quick, quick!" until, just as the head of the staircasewas reached, cr-r-r-ur! Came the sounds of ripping seams, and a longdangle of silk flounce showed underneath her skirt. 

"Just my luck!" she cried disconsolately. "It never seems as if I couldget upstairs like anyone else. Now they'll think I'm an untidy wretch, and it will all be spoiled. What's the use of silk flounces anyway?I'll never have another--I vow I won't! There! I'll pin it up with abrooch till they've gone. We must be in the drawing-room ready toreceive. Cynthia, sit over there, and pretend to be reading. MissTrevor, you might be casually poking the fire. Whatever we do, wemustn't alarm the poor dears by looking formal. "

"I am a great deal more alarmed of the poor dears than they will be ofme! My sister Jill pretended to swoon at the idea of a room full ofgovernesses. She said it was more like a nightmare than a piece of reallife. "

"Hush!" whispered Mrs Vanburgh tragically. "They come!" for footstepswere heard ascending the staircase, and the assistants flew to theirposts, while the hostess endeavoured to hum a tune in a light and jauntymanner. 

Another moment and the door was thrown open to disclose--a servant, bearing a note upon a silver salver. It was not a governess after all!

The two girls came forward into the room, divided between relief anddisappointment. 

Mrs Vanburgh tossed the note impatiently aside, and said resignedly--

"Ah, well, it gives us all the longer to prepare! I'll run into my roomand mend this horrid dress, and you might arrange these books ofphotographs. They are really awfully interesting, and of almost everycountry you can imagine. Old Mr Vanburgh collected them on histravels, so you have only to find out which country interests yourspecial governess most, and--there you are! It will save no end ofexertion!"

She ran out of the room, and the two girls stood together, seized with asudden shyness at finding themselves alone. 

"I--I think we know each other very well by sight, " said Cynthia, andBetty blushed and blinked, remembering the crowded schoolroom window andher own scathing criticisms. 

"Yes--I'm afraid we have stared a great deal. We are so interested inour neighbours, but they are almost all old--you were the only young onelike ourselves. We were frightfully anxious to know all about you. "

Cynthia gave a pathetic little sigh. 

"There's so little to know! There's just mother and me--and father atthe other end of the world. It isn't half so exciting as havingbrothers and sisters, and going to school, and having good times alltogether. I have envied you so!"

"Me!" cried Betty, aghast. "You envied _me_! How extraordinary! I'veperfectly ached with envying you sometimes. "

"Oh, why?" asked Cynthia; and as Betty looked into her wide earnest eyesshe felt of a sudden shamed and silenced. How could she acknowledgethat she had envied the greater luxury, the cosy fire in the bedroom, the pink evening dress, the monopoly of attention, she who was so richin the dear human companionship which the other lacked!

"There are drawbacks to a large family, you know, " she exclaimed. "Wedon't _always_ have good times. Sometimes we all get cross together andquarrel like cats, and then it feels as if it would be so nice andpeaceful to be the only one. You have no one to quarrel with. "

"I have myself. I quarrel fearfully with myself, " said Cynthia. 

She perched herself on the arm of a high chair and stared at Betty withher grave grey eyes. She wore an enamel buckle on her belt, a goldbangle encircled her wrist, her shoes, her stockings, her ribbons wereall in the perfection of taste. Betty felt another twinge of envy atthe sight, and wondered what in the world such a lucky person could findto quarrel about! In manner Cynthia was as simple and direct as Pamherself. A Pet she might be, but there was nothing pampered or self-satisfied for the most carping critic to discover. 

"I do get so bored with myself, " she said plaintively. "My mother hasstayed in England on purpose to look after me and my education, and itis always a case of `This would be good for Cynthia, ' `That would be badfor Cynthia, ' `What would be best for Cynthia?'--there is altogether toomuch Cynthia in my life, and I am sick of her. In a big family onewould have so many people to think of that there would be no room forself. "

"No--o!" said Betty doubtfully. Her conscience told her that despitefather and mother, and Miles and Jack, and Jill and Pamela, Betty loomedvery large on her own horizon, but she was ashamed to confess the factin so many words, and it was a relief when Mrs Vanburgh came bustlingback in her quick energetic fashion. 

"There!" she cried. "I've put in a row of safety-pins. I couldn'tspare the time to sew it up just now. It's half-past three, and theymay be arriving any moment. I'll talk to each one as she comes in, andartlessly find out how long she can stay, then I'll hand her over to youto be treated accordingly. Tea and cake if it's a call, photographs andlight conversation if it's a visit. Sister Anne, Sister Anne, do yousee anyone coming?"

Cynthia looked round from the window and shook her head. 

"Nary a governess! They wouldn't like to come exactly at the hour youmention. Perhaps they are prowling round the Square, whiling away thetime until it is polite to appear. "

"Oh dear, I wish they wouldn't! I like things to happen at once! I getfidgety and nervous if I have to wait, " cried Mrs Vanburgh, poking thefire with such violence that the ashes were strewn all over the grate. 

"Let's pretend that you are the first-comers, and rehearse theconversation! Now then, go out of the room and come in, and I'llwelcome you. "

Cynthia and Betty dutifully retreated to the hall, whence came a soundof subdued giggling and whispering, lasting for several minutes, at theexpiration of which the door was thrown open and "Miss Perks" announcedin a voice shaken by laughter, whereupon Cynthia bounced into the room, transformed almost out of recognition by a few touches accomplished byBetty's nimble fingers. 

Her long mane of hair was twisted into an exaggerated "door-knocker, " atthe top of which, with all the appearance of a very fly-away toque, wasperched one of the frilled pink shades which covered the electriclights; a piece of Eastern drapery was folded scarf-like round hershoulders. Perk by name and Perk by nature did she appear as she mincedacross the room, while hostess and maid alike looked on in helplessconvulsions of laughter. No rehearsal was possible under thecircumstances, though Cynthia persisted in acting her part, and sat onthe edge of the sofa tossing her head, and delivering herself ofstaccato little sentences in reply to imaginary questions suitable tothe occasion. 

"Oh, really! No indeed! Unusually cold for the time of year. Mostkind of you, I'm sure. Charming opportunity?"

"You impertinent girl; go and put back those things this minute! Howdare you make fun of me and spoil the look of my hall!" cried Nan, wiping the tears from her eyes; then she turned towards the clock, andher face fell. 

"Ten minutes to four! They ought to be coming! Why don't they come?--Now then, I _told_ you how it would be! There's the bell, andeverything upset!"

With a bound Miss Perks was in the middle of the floor, tearing thescarf from her shoulders, and shaking her hair loose from itsfastenings. Betty jumped on a chair to put the shade back in its place, Nan threw the drapery over the easel, which being done, all three rushedto the head of the staircase, and peered curiously into the hallbeneath. 

Once more disappointment awaited them, for a brown-paper parcel was thenearest approach to a governess which met their gaze, and the return tothe drawing-room was conducted in a much more leisurely and dignifiedmanner than the exit. For the first time the awful possibility offailure seemed to dawn on the hostess's heart. 

"Suppose, " she said blankly, "suppose Nobody comes! It would be aterrible disappointment, but the worst of all would be Gervase--myhusband! He laughed so at the preparations. I've provided enough fortwenty. He would tease me to death if it were all left. "

"It won't be!" cried Betty stoutly. "If the worst comes to the worst, Ishall be so ravenous with disappointment and nervous strain by sixo'clock, that I shall be able to demolish enough for ten. "

"And you can't say you have had nobody. You have had Miss Perks, " addedCynthia slyly; but Mrs Vanburgh refused to be comforted, and wandereddisconsolately up and down the room, peering out of each of the threewindows in succession, and watching the clock with anxious dismay. 

"Half-past four, and not one here! What can it mean? Three big Homes Iwent to, and there must have been at least a score of inmates in each;it isn't _possible_ that nobody will come!"

"In all the length and breadth of this great city, is there not _one_governess who will take pity upon a hospitable lady!" quoted Cynthiamischievously. It was evident that she also knew the source from whichhad sprung the inspiration of these Saturday gatherings; but though Nanlaughed, it was with a somewhat uncertain sound, and her brown eyeslooked suspiciously moist. The two girls were quick to realise that itwas not a time for teasing, and hastened to give a safer turn to theconversation. 

In truth, Nan's heart was very deeply in her enterprise. Hers was oneof those sweet, generous natures which expand, instead of shrivellingunder the influence of prosperity. Just in proportion as her own lifewas beautiful and hedged round with all the sweet fences of love, so didshe yearn more and more over her sisters whose lots were cast in suchdifferent places--which is the true spirit of Christ, who left the veryheavens for our sakes. She had woven many happy dreams about theseafternoon meetings, seeing the radiance of her own happiness lighting updark places, and the power of love and sympathy cheering starved andlonely lives, and was it all to end like this--in a joke for her husbandand these two girls? Would Gervase come home, and laugh his tender, happy laugh, and stroke her hair, and call her "Poor little pet!" as ifshe, and not the missing guests, was the real object of compassion?

Nan blinked the tears from her eyes, but they rose again and again--tears of bitter disappointment; and then, just as the clock was about tostrike the quarter, there came another quick whirr of the electric bell, and Cynthia, running out into the hall, came back aglow with excitement. 

"It is! It _is_!" she hissed in an excited whisper. "I saw her. She'scoming upstairs. Quick! Quick! To your posts!"

Betty rushed to the fire, Nan stood in the middle of the floor radiantwith expectation. The servant threw open the door, and announced insolemn tones--

"Miss Beveridge. "

The first governess had arrived!

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

MISS BEVERIDGE. 

She was small and thin, with a bleached, joyless face, which seemed allof the same dull grey tint. Grey hair, grey eyes, grey complexion, apinched-in mouth and deeply-furrowed forehead. She was dressed inblack--shabby black, which is the shabbiest of all shabbies--and, looking at her, it seemed impossible to believe that there had ever beena time when she was young and happy, and had frisked and frolicked, andliked pretty things like any ordinary girl. Cynthia and Betty felt achill of dismay, but Nan's heart gave a throb of delight. This was oneof the very starved, joyless lives which she longed to brighten; itwould have been difficult to find a better type of the class. Shewalked quickly forward, and held out a warm, welcoming hand. 

"How do you do? I am so pleased you have come?"

Miss Beveridge looked at her coldly, then cast an inquiring glancearound the room; at the luxurious hangings and furniture, at the glowingfire, at Betty slim and childish in her simple blue frock, at Cynthiawith her flowing locks. 

"Is--is Mrs Vanburgh not at home?" she inquired, drawing up her thinfigure with an air of wounded dignity. "I understood that the hoursmentioned were from three to seven, but if she is engaged--"

Nan smiled in the merry, radiant manner which made her look even youngerthan her years. 

"I am Mrs Vanburgh!"

"Oh, indeed!" said Miss Beveridge coldly. 

Why she should have taken the announcement as a personal insult thegirls could not understand, but that she did receive it in such, aspirit was proved by the sudden stiffening which passed over herfeatures even as she spoke. She seated herself on the edge of the chairto which Nan escorted her, sternly refused an offer of tea, andvouchsafed only monosyllabic replies when spoken to. It was a terribleoccasion! Nan took refuge in the resort of the destitute, and exhaustedthe subject of the weather in all its branches. 

"It is a very chilly afternoon. "

"Very chilly. "

"It seemed in the morning as if it were going to clear up. "

"It did. "

"The forecast says it will rain before night. "

"Indeed!"

"November always _is_ a dreary month. "

No reply. 

"In London there are so many fogs, but in the country the fallen leavesare almost as depressing. "

"Perhaps so. "

Nan looked across the room and made a desperate grimace at hercompanions. Before doing so she made sure that Miss Beveridge was notlooking, but she forgot that in turning her head in the oppositedirection she was naturally _vis-a-vis_ with Cynthia and Betty, andthey--silly things!--simultaneously jerked with surprise, flushed andstruggled after speech, thereby hopelessly giving away the situation. 

"Er--are you _quite_ sure you will not have a cup of tea? Or--er, coffee? We have both ready. Or a high-tea downstairs, if you care foranything more solid. "

"I have had luncheon, thank you. I am not in the least in need offood, " replied Miss Beveridge in tones of scathing coldness. There wasa ghastly silence. 

"Horrid thing! Always did hate 'em!" soliloquised Betty. 

"How dare she? Ungrateful wretch!" queried Cynthia. 

"She's cross because she's miserable; she's just as miserable as she canbe! Somebody else could comfort her, but I can't. She thinks I am apresumptuous chit. Perhaps I am, trying to do work that is far beyondme!" sighed Nan, with a heavy sinking of the heart. She could notattempt to speak, and the silence lasted several minutes, until at lastMiss Beveridge roused herself to inquire hesitatingly, yet with acertain suppressed eagerness--

"Were you perhaps wishing to--er--to organise some classes? My time isdisengaged on Saturday afternoons. My special subject is music, but Ihold very high certificates, and am of course competent to take up othersubjects. "

Nan gasped with dismay! Here was a situation, to be treated as aschoolgirl whose education required finishing! She could hear Gervase'sderisive laughter, the amused chuckle with which he would say, "Sillygirl, serve you right!" Across the room Cynthia and Betty weresniggering, and biting their lips. This was indeed a travesty of whatshe had expected. The blood flamed in her cheeks, but she answeredsteadily enough--

"Oh no, I was not thinking of anything for myself. It occurred to methat it might be dull in those `Homes' on holiday afternoons, especiallyfor ladies who are strangers in London, and I hoped it might make alittle change for them to come out to tea. It would certainly be apleasure to me to receive them. "

"Indeed!" said Miss Beveridge coldly. 

The momentary animation which had flickered in her face at the thoughtof the possibility of classes died away, leaving her looking even morebleached and hopeless than before. She pressed her thin lips together, looked at the clock, and inquired suddenly--

"Can you tell me the nearest way from here to Maida Vale?"

It was a direct intimation of departure, and Nan accepted it as such, giving the desired information, without protest, it is true, but in amanner absolutely devoid of offence. It was raining heavily by thistime, and she would fain have offered to whistle for a hansom, but shefelt that such a proceeding would have been interpreted as an additionaloffence. When the visitor rose, however, she insisted upon accompanyingher downstairs, where in the privacy of the vestibule she allowedherself the luxury of a farewell appeal. 

"I am so sorry that it has been a failure! You are vexed with me forhaving brought you here for nothing, and on such a terrible afternoontoo, but I _meant_ well! I'm young, and foolish, and don't know how todo things properly, but I couldn't bear to keep everything to myself, and I could think of no better way. You'll forgive me, won't you? I'mso sorry you've been bored!"

Miss Beveridge looked at her swiftly, and as she looked her thinfeatures twitched beneath her veil, and two little patches of colourshowed themselves on her cheeks. 

"There is nothing to forgive, " she said hurriedly. "Nothing on yourside, at least. I was taken by surprise and did not quite understand. If you will allow me I will come again another time. "

"Will you--will you really? Oh, it would make me so happy!" cried Nanrapturously. "Thank you so much! Next Saturday, perhaps? I shall lookforward to it all the week. "

She motioned the servant aside, and, accompanying her visitor to thedoor, insisted upon opening her umbrella and helping to tuck up thewell-worn skirt. Her bonnie face shone out under the light as she wavedher hand and cried out eagerly, "Come soon! Come soon!" Miss Beveridgeshut her lips tightly and did not reply in words, but she did somethingwhich was more expressive--she dropped her skirt into the mud on purposeto wave a response! The November evening was dark and cheerless enoughto strike a chill to the stoutest heart, but one solitary woman walkedthrough it with a new glow at her heart. The warm light streaming outinto the darkness, the sweet welcoming voice, were as meat and drink toher starved soul. 

In the drawing-room the girls awaited Nan's return with some anxiety, but, to their amazement, she came bounding upstairs two steps at a time, all abeam with complacent delight. What a comfort it was that she hadso soon returned to her senses!

"Has she gone? Really gone! What a relief!"

"She's coming again! She said she would. Thank goodness for that!"

"Mrs Vanburgh, you--you can't mean it! She was a horror! You can'tpossibly want to see her again! She was as cross as two sticks becauseshe had come once, so why should she try it a second time?"

"She didn't understand, and it was a shock to find us all so young. Yes, of course I want her! She's just the sort I do want; the happy, prosperous ones have no need of me. Oh, did you see her poor greyface?"

Betty shivered dramatically. 

"I did! It made me think of vinegar and, lemon-juice, and all the sourthings you can think of mixed together. Her lips were so thin you couldhardly see them at all, and they turned right down at the corners. "

"She was pretty once, prettier than any of us--her features are perfectstill. She's worried, and ill, and badly dressed. Did you see herblouse?"

"Yes!" Betty sighed sententiously. "It was such a comfort to me. I'dbeen feeling so grumpy because my own was horrid compared to yours, butwhen I saw that grey flannel atrocity I felt I ought to be thankfulinstead?"

Nan laughed happily. 

"Then she did you good too? That's all right. Girls, I'm hungry. Thishas been a most exhausting afternoon. I don't think there is a chanceof anyone else coming, so hadn't we better go downstairs and eat up someof the good things ourselves? How do you feel?"

There was no doubt about the girls' feelings. They might have beenstarving, from the alacrity with which they sprang from their seats, followed their hostess downstairs, and seated themselves at the dining-table. 

"We will not wait any longer, Johnson. Bring in fresh tea and coffee, and then you can leave us. We will attend to ourselves, " said Nan tothe solemn-faced butler; and, as soon as he had departed, "Isn't it justwonderful how servants contrive to keep their faces straight?" she criedlaughingly. "I've no doubt they are all laughing themselves illdownstairs at the collapse of my great `At Home, ' but Johnson looks asif it were the most correct thing in the world for three people to sitdown to a table laid for a dozen! I'll carve, and you can pour out. Now for the chicken and ham--now for the gay Sally Lunn! Eat, mydarlings, eat! Do without dinner for one night, and save a friend'sreputation! I shall never hear the last of it from Gervase, unless Ican tell him that some of the things were used. "

It was a merry meal, and lasted for an inordinately long time, and whenit was over the three girls felt that their mutual acquaintance hadprogressed by giant strides. 

Cynthia went home to give a graphic description of Betty's charms, andto cry--

"You must, you really must, call upon Mrs Trevor, mother, for I can'tbe happy till I know the whole family. "

Betty burst into the dining-room in a flutter of excitement, exclaimingall in a breath--

"She's a darling, a perfect darling; and the Pet was there, and her nameis Cynthia, and she's not pampered a bit. We are awfully good friends;and what do you think?--only one governess turned up, and there areheaps and heaps of cakes left. And may Jill and Pam go to tea on Mondayto eat them up?"

As for Nan, she laid her pretty head on her husband's shoulder, andrefused to be comforted. 

"No, it was not a failure! I'm not disappointed a bit. I was silly, and expected too much, but the one who came--oh, Gervase, she was thevery incarnation of homelessness. If she will let me help her, I shallbe quite, quite satisfied?"

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

LETTERS. 

Christmas approached. Cynthia drove from one big shop to another, accompanied by mother or governess, and selected costly remembrances forher friends, Betty Trevor among the rest, for Mrs Alliot had at lastbeen induced to call on the doctor's wife, and so formally sanction thegirls' friendship. Nan Vanburgh crossed out every day as it passed onthe calendar, and danced for joy at the thought of going "home" for thefestival. 

"It's rather rough on me. I flattered myself that I was sufficient foryour happiness, " her husband told her, "and--"

"So you are, you darling!" Nan assured him gushingly. "I don't wantanyone else in the world but just you, and father, and mother, and Jim, and the girls, and Kitty, and Ned, and your old uncle, and Maud's baby--and--"

"And Cynthia Alliot, and this newly-discovered family at Number 14, andtwenty governesses rolled into one as exemplified by Miss Beveridge, anda few score of friends scattered up and down the country! What it is tohave married a little soul with a big heart!" cried Gervase, shrugginghis shoulders with an air of martyrdom, though, as a matter of fact, hewas well satisfied with his place in his wife's affection, and loved herall the more for remaining faithful to old claims. 

As for Betty Trevor, she shivered up in her attic bedroom, putting inlast stitches to the presents which had been manufactured at the cost ofmuch trouble and self-denial. The table-centre for mother had cost onlyone and threepence, but looked every bit as nice as those displayed inthe shop-windows for six and nine. The shield of white wadded satinseemed an ideal protector for a dress shirt, and if father did not useit as such when he went out in the evening, it would be his fault, nothers! The blotters for Miles and Jack, the work and shoe bags for thegirls, to say nothing of endless odds and ends for cousins and aunts, made quite a brave show when she laid them all out on the bedpreparatory to wrapping them up in paper. Jill was invited to theprivate view, her own present being discreetly hidden away for theoccasion, and expressed an admiration tempered by pity. 

"Such a fag!" she declared. "Look at me, I've done the whole thing inone afternoon! Sallied out with my savings in my purse--two shillingspocket-money, one and three for waking Miles in the morning, sixpencefrom mother--reward of merit for not biting my nails for a week--ninepence from Norah for my pink silk tie (it cost half-a-crown, and Ihated the old thing), four and sixpence altogether--and I got fifteenreally handsome presents. "

"Jill, you haven't! It isn't possible!"

"It is then; it only needs management. I've kept all the chocolateboxes we have had given to us by grateful patients during the year--sixof them--and they look ripping filled with sweets at sixpence a pound. I collected mother's old scent-bottles too, with cut-glass stoppers, andbought a shilling's worth of eau-de-Cologne to fill them. Such a joke!It didn't quite go round, so I put some water in the last, and it'sturned quite milky. I'll have to give that to Pam. She'll think itsomething new and superior. I've got sticking--plaster for the boys--they are sure to cut their fingers some day--and a beautiful needle-bookfor mother--ninepence halfpenny--and it looks worth it, every penny. Oh, I say, while I remember, I don't mind lending you my snow-shoes, butyou might take the trouble to put them back when you've done with them!I wanted them badly this morning. "

"I haven't got your old snow-shoes. I don't know what has come to thishouse. Everyone is accusing me of stealing! Mother was on the rampageabout her gloves this morning, and father's old smoking-jacket ismissing. Mother says it's a good thing, for it was disgracefullyshabby, but he loved it because it was so comfy, and we had such a fusssearching all over the house. Christmas seems to put everything out ofgear. "

"Oh, well, it's worth it! Think of the presents!" cried Jill gleefully. She skipped downstairs, and, sitting down before the writing-table inthe drawing-room, pulled out a number of sheets of her mother's writing-paper, on which she proceeded to indite a number of epistles, in whichwords and spaces were curiously mingled. 

 "Dear Aunt Margaret, --Thank you so much for the beautiful . .. It is just what I wanted. It was so nice of you to send it to me. I think it is . .. I hope you are quite well, and not having asthma any more, --Your loving niece, --

 "Margaret. "

 "Darling Cousin Flo, --I am so awfully obliged to you for the lovely . .. It is just what I wanted. I am so pleased to have it. It will just do for . .. I think Christmas is ripping, don't you? Please write soon to Jill. "

 "Dear Mrs Gregory, --It is most kind of you to remember me with such a nice present. The . .. Is just what I wanted. I am much obliged to you for remembering me. Has not Christmas Day been . .. This year?--I am your loving little friend, Margaret Meredith Trevor. "

 "My own dear, darling Norah, --What an angel you are to send me that perfectly ripping . .. It is just exactly what I wanted, and I am so proud to have it. Come round to-morrow and see my things. I've got . .. Altogether. Isn't that a lot? Don't you call this weather . .. ?-- Your own Jill. "

She was scribbling away--the table littered with the finishedproductions--when a hand fell on her shoulder and a stentorian voicecried--

"Eh, what? Too busy to hear me come in, were you? What's the meaningof this sudden industry?" and, starting up, she beheld the red, parrot-like visage of General Digby bending over her. This was not by anymeans the first visit which the General had paid in return for the "kindenquiries. " He was a lonely old man, and to spend a few minutes in thecheery atmosphere of a family made a pleasant break in his dailyconstitutional. Mrs Trevor was always pleased to welcome him, but asshe was aware that it was not herself but the children who were theattraction, she did not hurry downstairs on occasions like the present. 

"Writing Christmas letters, eh?" boomed the General loudly. "Sendingoff your presents, I suppose. Eh, what? _Thanking_ people forpresents, do you say? That's a bit previous, isn't it? What's thehurry?"

"Oh, there's always so much going on after Christmas, when the boys areat home, and it's such a bore sticking in the house writing letters. Iuse up the odd times before, in getting them as ready as I can, and thenit only takes a minute to fill in the spaces. "

She held out a specimen letter as she spoke, and, looking at it, GeneralDigby went off into such a convulsion of laughter, coughing, and pantingfor breath, that he presented a truly alarming spectacle. Theprotuberant eyes protruded farther and farther, the tuft of grey hairseemed to rear itself more stiffly erect, his cheeks changed from red topurple. It was not a time for ceremony, and Jill promptly pounded himon the back until he recovered himself sufficiently to shake her off, declaring forcibly that the cure was worse than the disease. Then hesubsided into a chair, and wiped his eyes elaborately with a bandanahandkerchief. 

"Where's my letter?" he inquired. "I suppose there's one addressed tome among all that number. Was I as fortunate as the rest in sendingjust what was wanted? You are a young woman of a great many wants, itseems to me. Tell you what now: I'll strike a bargain! Fill up theblanks, and I'll see if I can come up to expectation! Eh, what?"

"Oh no!" cried Jill, blushing with an embarrassment which yet had in ita fearful joy, for who would have thought that such a new friend wouldenrol himself in the blessed ranks of present-givers? "There is noletter for you. I truly never thought you would give us anything, " sheexplained hesitatingly. "I couldn't possibly choose myself. It'sawfully good of you to think of it, but, really, anything--It's likethis, you see; I want everything I can get!"

"Oh, you do, do you?" cried the General, beginning to shake again in theold, alarming, jelly-like fashion. "Nothing like honesty in this world, my dear. Well, well, we must see what we can do! I'll bend my greatmind to the question, and you shall know the result on Christmas Day. "

Jill smiled uncertainly. Already she was beginning to repent hermodesty. Suppose she had taken her courage into her hands, and had saidboldly, "A gold watch, " could it possibly have been true that theambition of a lifetime would have been gratified, as by the stroke of amagician's wand? Really and truly the General had tumbled (literallytumbled) into their lives in the most unexpected fashion, and to begintalking of presents upon an acquaintance of a month's standing provedhim to be something far superior to ordinary mortals. Jill made up hermind to change the nickname of Victim for that of Magician from thistime forward. 

Presently Betty appeared, a pensive, melancholy Betty, chilly about thefingers, and nippy about the nose, much oppressed by the feeling thatshe worked while others played, and had no thanks for her pains, and wasaltogether too good for a world in which her excellencies wereunappreciated. As usual, her hair was dressed in accordance with hermood, a brush dipped in water having been employed to flatten out thecurls which had been painfully achieved a few hours before. 

The General looked at the dismal little figure with a twinkling eye. Already he had been introduced to three separate Betty Trevors, and itwould be interesting to ascertain which of the various representationsapproached nearest to the reality. Judging from Miss Betty'sconversation this afternoon, Christmas would appear to be her _betenoire_ throughout the year, and she could see no bright spot in thehorizon. The presents which she had prepared were all failures; unlikeJill, she wanted nothing in return; it was dull having "no one butourselves" in the house on the great day, while, on the other hand, itwould be horrid to have strangers. Mrs Vanburgh had gone off home toenjoy herself, and had left the "Govies" in the charge of herself andCynthia Alliot to "cheer up and entertain, " and how could they do it, pray, a couple of girls like themselves? She scowled quite fiercely atthe General as she put the question, but he only chuckled in reply, having already been treated to the history of Nan's first `At Home' fromthe lips of an historian more sceptical than sympathetic. 

"Aha! Those governesses! How many may they be? Do you still entertainthe few to conversation, and yourselves to the good things provided forthe many?" he cried teasingly, whereupon Betty assumed what sheconceived to be an air of haughty reproach, and replied coldly--

"We had four at our last reception. They all want to come again, andwere most agreeable. Two of them have gone home for the holidays, butthe others have no homes to go to. They are the ones we have toentertain, and it's silly, because they are so tired of girls that weare the last people they wish to see. Mrs Vanburgh is different--she'smarried, and is more interesting. Mother says she's sorry, but thereare a dozen poor ladies who have a greater claim on us--father'spatients, and so on--and what can I do by myself?" She sighed, andraised her eyes in a meek, resigned fashion to the cornet of theceiling. "It's not for want of will, or want of thought I lay awake forquite half an hour worrying about it one night!"

"Send them a Christmas card, and be done with it, " cried Jill callously. "You can get beauties for a halfpenny at the little sweet shop roundthe corner. I'll sell you one I bought yesterday. Convolvulus, and`May all your hours be filled with joy. ' Just the thing you want!"

Betty's lip curled in disdain. 

"So appropriate, isn't it? So likely to be true!"

"All the more reason to wish for it, " maintained Jill pertly. "What'sthe good of wishing if you don't wish something nice? You don't want totake for granted that she is going on mumping and grumping all nextyear. Something nice might happen to her, as well as to anyone else. "

"Quite right, quite right! Always expect the best, and prepare for theworst, " cried the General heartily. "Now, I've a suggestion to make!There's a big concert advertised to take place in the Albert Hall on theafternoon of Boxing Day. Some friends of mine who are wandering abroadhave a box there which is at my disposal when I choose to use it. I'mnot going with you, mind--none of your governesses for me!--but I'llgive you the tickets, and you can make up a happy party, and get rid ofsome of your responsibilities, at least. How does that idea strike you, Miss Betty--eh, what?"

"Oh, I--I love it! You _are_ sweet!" gushed Betty fervently. A box!The Albert Hall! Herself the head of the party, the gracious dispenserof favours--it was almost too ecstatic to be believed! "The twogovernesses, Cynthia and myself, Miles, because he loves music, and wewant someone to bring us home, and father, if he has time, for Mileswon't come if he is the only male. That would be a delightful party!"she decided. There were points, after all, about being left "incharge?"

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS. 

The Trevors' programme on Christmas Day differed from those of theirfriends, and possessed in their opinion many striking advantages. Nopresents were given in the morning; it was enough excitement to knowthat it was Christmas Day, and to linger over a late and luxuriousbreakfast before going to church. There was something particularlyinspiring about the moment when the great congregation rose in the ivy-decked church and burst into song--

 "Hark, the herald angels sing, Glory to the new-born King!"

Even Jill had a fleeting realisation that the true meaning of Christmaswas something quite apart from presents, and turkey, and plum-puddings, while Betty's thoughts flew back to the day of her confirmation, and shevowed herself anew to the service of the King. Jack sang the well-knownwords with a new attention--"Christ the everlasting Lord;" this was thesame Christ who was General Digby's "Captain. " "I am here to obey myCaptain's orders, "--the words rang in his ears, and he saw once more thewonderful softening of the fierce old face. Miles did not sing at all;his voice was still hoarse and broken, and his set expression gavelittle clue to his feelings, but Pam's treble was clear and sweet, andher little face shone with innocent fervour. 

After church came a walk through the--well! It should have been "thecrisp cold air, " but unfortunately the weather showed no sense ofpropriety, and in reality it was as dank and cheerless a day as evenLondon itself can produce in mid-winter. As the advance guard in theshape of Miles and Betty neared their own doorway, a dainty figure randown the steps, and there was Cynthia Alliot, blooming like a delicatepink rose in the midst of the fog. 

"You!" cried Betty in surprise, and then awkwardly attempted thedifficult task of introduction. "Er--this is my brother Miles! Miles--this is--"

"The Pampered Pet!" interrupted Cynthia, laughing. Miles knit his browsin the fashion he had when ill at ease, and mumbled an unintelligiblegreeting, but Cynthia was not in the least embarrassed. She smiled athim as frankly as if he had been another Betty, yet with a little air ofgracious dignity which is rarely found in girls of her age. She wasquite simple and unaffected, but one could never imagine her taking partin the free-and-easy, slangy, unchivalrous intercourse which so oftenprevails nowadays between girls and boys. She held herself like aQueen, and silent Miles looked at her, and in the depths of his honestheart vowed himself to her service. 

"What did you call for?" Betty queried. "Did you want to see me? Wasit about to-morrow? We are going to call for you at half-past two. Wecan walk, I suppose, unless it is wet?"

"Oh yes, it will be far nicer. I do hope it will be fine. This is notat all a cheerful Christmas, is it? Good-bye! I do hope you'll have alovely time!" returned Cynthia, waving her hand and crossing the roadtowards her own doorway. It was too late to remind her that she had notanswered the last question, and the first sight of the hall tablebanished every other thought, for on it lay the pile of Christmas cardswhose advent had been so eagerly expected. Betty seized the bundle andbegan doling them out, while her brothers and sisters clustered round, and clamoured for their share. 

"Miss Trevor--Miss Trevor--Miss Trevor--(Betty, it's not fair, you aretaking them all!) Miss Jill Trevor, Miss JM Trevor, Mrs Trevor, JamesTrevor, Esquire, MD--(Looks like a bill! How mean to send a bill onChristmas day!) Miss Trevor, Miss Pamela Trevor, " so it went on, themajor share falling to the three girls, the boys coming in only for anoccasional missive from an aunt or some such kindly relation, whosuddenly awoke to the fact of their existence at Christmas time. Whenthe cards were dealt out there still remained a little pile of envelopeswhich had apparently been delivered by hand, as no stamps appearedbeside the addresses. Betty pounced on them, and gave a shout ofdelight. 

"There's money inside! There is, I can feel it. Mine's quite small--like a--a--" She dropped the remaining envelopes to open her own in aflutter of excitement. Inside there was a folded piece of paperenclosing a second envelope--one of those tiny, dainty affairs in whichsome old-fashioned tradesmen still deliver change to their customers. In her haste Betty ripped it open, and held up to view a brand newsovereign. 

"It is! It is! How s-imply lovely! I was so hard up--and now! Whatperfect angel can have sent it?"

She picked up the piece of paper which she had dropped in her haste, andread aloud, "With the best wishes of Terence Digby, " the while herbrothers and sisters made short work of their own envelopes. Jack andJill had each a new ten-shilling piece, and Pam a magnificent silvercrown, the size of which delighted her even more than the value. 

"He said he would send me something, but I never thought it would bemoney. It's what I like better than anything else, to be rich in theChristmas holidays!" Jill cried rapturously, and Mrs Trevor smiled andsaid--

"So he seemed to think. He asked my permission before sending hispresents in this form, and said he would like to give you money, becausewhen he was a boy an old lady used to send new coins to himself and hisbrothers every Christmas in these same little envelopes, and he hadnever forgotten the pleasure they gave him. Yes! You will feel rich, but don't be in too great a hurry to spend your fortunes, for theGeneral may wish to speak to you on that point. "

Jill shrugged her shoulders disgustedly. 

"Bother! I hope he won't want us to spend it sensibly! That would takeaway all the fun. I want to keep it in my purse, and fritter it awayjust as I like. What's the good of giving presents, and not letting youuse them as you like?"

"Well, well, what's the use of grumbling before you know if there isanything to grumble about?" returned Mrs Trevor, laughing. She movedaway, carrying her bundle of letters, and the children followed herexample, and spent a happy half-hour examining, displaying, andcomparing cards and calendars. 

Then came lunch, a glorified lunch with "party" sweets, and dessert, finishing up with a big dish of chestnuts to roast over the fire. Thedoctor was at home for the afternoon, having made the round of hisserious patients in the morning (abominably selfish of anyone to be illon Christmas Day!), and that fact alone gave a festivity to theafternoon tea, while ever in the background lurked the delightfulanticipation of presents--presents to come!

Other people had done with all their excitement before now, and had evengrown accustomed to their new possessions, but Betty and Jill donnedlast year's party dresses for dinner in a flutter of anticipation, andthen hurried downstairs, each with an armful of parcels to add to thestore which had been accumulating in the library all day long. 

The sofa was full of them--neat brown--paper parcels, bulky parcels, shapeless parcels, tissue-paper parcels, large and small, dainty and thereverse, boxes, envelopes, and a mysterious pyramid covered with asheet, over which Pam mounted jealous guard. Betty had just time toarrange the parcels on two large trays, and see the larger articlesconveyed into the dining-room and hidden behind a screen, before thegong rang, and dinner began. 

There was the orthodox turkey and roast beef, plum-pudding and mince-pies, but when dessert was over there came a moment of thrillingexcitement, as the servants placed one heaped trayful of presents on thetable before Dr Trevor, and another at the bottom before his wife. Thelong-looked-for moment had come at last!

Well, it was a pleasant sight to see the twinkle in the doctor's tiredeyes as he looked round the table at his five children, and exchanged asmile of comradeship with his pretty wife. His long delicate hand, thetrue doctor's hand, lifted the topmost parcel from the tray, and held italoft while he read aloud the laborious inscription--"`To Miles, hoppinghe will like it, from Pam. ' Here you are, Miles!" and down the table itwent, from one eager pair of hands to another, while Pam blushed a vividred, and wriggled bashfully on her chair. 

There were a great many wrappings, and the dimensions of the parceldiminished so rapidly as to excuse serious fears that it containednothing more substantial than a joke, but such an idea was an insult toPam's generosity. She had bestowed much thought on the choice of thisspecial present, and could not in the least understand the roar oflaughter which rose from every side as the last paper fell away todisclose a magnificent sixpenny tooth-brush in all its creamy splendour. 

Miles' face was a study as he gazed upon it, and turned it speculativelyto and fro. 

"Anything personal meant, Pam?" he inquired, and, "Yes, please, Miles!"replied innocent Pam, and blushed again to the verge of tears at thesecond shout of merriment. 

"It's a very useful present, dear, " Mrs Trevor said consolingly, andhastened to give the conversation a turn by doling out another parcelfrom her own tray. 

"`Betty, with love from Jill. '"

It was a very small parcel, and Betty looked at it with suspicion, remembering the sticking-plaster and watered eau de Cologne, but thingsturned out better than she expected, the enclosure being quite a prettyhat-pin, of a colour to match her best hat. 

"Just what I wanted!" was both the true and the gracious manner ofacknowledging this trophy, as also the book from Jack, and the glovesfrom Miles, which presently fell to her share. Then it was the doctor'sturn, his wife having retired behind the screen to bring forth anenormous parcel, which could only be laid on a chair by his side, sinceit was far too big to place on the table itself. 

"For me? Why, what can this be? It feels like a blanket!" he cried inastonishment, and his face was a picture of mingled surprise, pleasure, and consternation, as a handsome fur-lined carriage rug was presentlyrevealed to view. "Oh, this is too much! This won't do! Edith, whatreckless extravagance!"

"Not extravagance at all, " his wife answered sturdily. "You must bekept warm, driving about from morning till night. It is nothing lessthan a necessity which you ought to have had years ago. Besides, it'snot my gift alone--it's a joint affair. The children all contributed--it's from all six of us, with our best love to you, dearest. "

"I gave threepence, " announced Pam proudly, thereby bringing a smile toher father's face, though his voice had a suspicious quiver in it as hesaid--

"Thank you, my six darlings!" and smoothed the rug with a loving touch. Its presence would keep not only his body but his heart warm on many awintry day to come. 

After this, the parcel-opening went on fast and furious. Pam received ayoung lady doll, and had barely recovered from the rapture of herarrival when, presto! There appeared a miniature travelling-box, covered with leather, provided with straps, and a white PT painted atthe sides, just like a real true grown-up box! And inside--a veritabletrousseau! The work of loving mother hands on many a winter evening--ablue serge coat and skirt, a party frock of pale pink silk, a long whitecloak; a straw hat for ordinary wear, and--could you believe it?--atoque, boa, and muff of real fur, just like that old muff of mother'sthat she wore before the new one arrived. Beneath these treasures asupply of under garments, including a dear little flannel dressing-jacket, and bedroom slippers to match. Never, no, never since thecreation of the world did a little girl of eight years receive a moreall-satisfying and delightful offering! In her parents' eyes at least, Pam's little face, aglow with innocent rapture, was the most beautifulsight of that happy Christmas Day. 

Jack had a book from his father, a knitted tie from Betty, skates fromhis mother--oh, for a good hard frost!--some cast-off tools from Miles, and a packet of black sticking-plaster from Jill. He grinned broadlyover this last offering, and while the parcel-opening went on on bothsides fumbled mysteriously beneath the tablecloth. Five minutes later, as he joined the others in a burst of laughter, his mother startedviolently, and cried, "Jack! What _has_ happened!" in a tone of dismaywhich brought every eye upon him. Freckled nose, twinkling eyes, outstanding ears--no change to be seen in these well-known features, butthe teeth--the teeth! Between lips extended in broadest of smilesappeared horrible, isolated tusks standing out conspicuously from theblack gaps on either side. What in the name of all that was mysteriousand perplexing had happened to those rows of sound regular ivories whichhad been his chief beauty five minutes before? And what an alterationin his whole appearance! Extraordinary to think of the change which waseffected by the loss of half a dozen little teeth!

After the first start of surprise, understanding dawned quickly enough. Jill's present had been short-lived, but it had served its purpose, bothin her eyes and Jack's, in causing the sensation of the evening, and themother's pitiful, "Take them off, Jack dear, do! You look _so_dreadful!" could not persuade Jack to peel off the disfiguring blacksquares. It was too dear a triumph to a schoolboy's heart to createshudders of disgust every time he opened his mouth!

The pile of presents on the trays waxed rapidly less and less, the lastparcel of all being of exceptional daintiness, --tissue-paper, tied roundwith a narrow blue ribbon. It was addressed to Betty, and to herrapturous surprise contained a line of congratulation from CynthiaAlliot, and the exact duplicate of an artistic silver and enamel bucklewhich she had admired on her friend's belt a few days before. She wasso entirely occupied crooning over this treasure, that she did notnotice that Pam had suddenly slipped from her chair and pushed thescreen aside, leaving the tall draped mystery fully exposed to view. 

"It's my present, " she explained proudly. "For mother. Just what shewanted! Cook hid it for me, and covered it with these clothes. " Shestood on tiptoe as she spoke, taking out the pins which held thecoverings together. They fell to the ground, and revealed a handsomebranching palm, standing four or five feet from the ground. Mrs Trevoruttered an exclamation of incredulous surprise, and indeed every faceround the table expressed the same sentiment, for the plant wasobviously expensive, and how in the world could Pam have purchased itout of an income of a penny a week?

"My darling! For me? That is indeed a magnificent present. Where didit come from, dear? Has someone joined with you to give a present tomother?"

Before now it had happened that a friend of the family had consulted thechildren as to their mother's wishes in the matter of Christmaspresents, and it seemed the most likely solution of the mystery thatthis had occurred once again, Pam contributing in the same proportion asshe had done to her father's rug. But no! Pam proudly denied theinsinuation, and repeated--

"It's my very own present I bought it myself. "

"But, my sweetheart--" began Mrs Trevor anxiously, and then checkedherself at the thought of another possible explanation. "Did someonegive you some money, dear, that I knew nothing about?"

"Oh no! I haven't had any money, only General Digby's to-day. "

"Then how-- I am very pleased and delighted to have the palm, but Ican't enjoy it properly until I know a little more about how it cameinto your possession. It is such a very big present for a little girl. How did you get all the money, dear?"

Pam smiled with an air of innocent pride. 

"It wasn't--all--money!" she said, smiling. 

"Not all money? What do you mean? If it was not all money, what wasthe rest?"

"Clothes!"

"Clothes!" cried Mrs Trevor vaguely. 

"Clothes!" echoed her husband. 

"Clothes!" shrieked Betty in a shrill treble. 

"Cl-othes!" repeated the boys curiously. Only Jill's face lit up withcomprehension, mingled with a spice of resentment. 

"I know--I know! _Old_ clothes, she means! She has been selling oldclothes--our old clothes, if you please--to `All a-growing all a-blowing' in exchange for the palm! He likes them better than money. Iheard him say so one day when Pam was seeing me off at the door. That'swhere dad's old coat has gone to, that's where your blouse is, Betty, not to mention some of the boys' ties, and gloves, and my umbrella. Oh, you wretched child! The hours I've spent searching for it! That'swhere everything has gone that we have been searching for for the lastmonth. She has been gathering them together for the palm!"

Mrs Trevor's face was a study of complex emotion as she looked at herbaby, but Pam's triumphant satisfaction did not waver for a moment. Shenodded her head, and cried cheerfully--

"Oh, lots more things than that! He wanted so much, because palms ismost expensive of all before Christmas, and I bought it when you wereall out, and cook hid it, and we sprayed its leaves to make them bright. In her last place Miss Bella did them every week with milk-and-water tomake them shine!"

She had not the least idea that there was anything to be ashamed of inher action; on the contrary, she was full of pride in her owncleverness. But it was impossible to allow such an occasion to pass, even on Christmas evening, when discipline is necessarily relaxed. MrsTrevor's face was an eloquent mingling of tenderness and distress as shesaid--

"But did it never strike you, Pam dear, that these things were not yourown to sell? That you had no right to sell them?"

"They were no use. You said to father, `That coat is too disgraceful tobe worn, ' and Betty said the blouse mortified her pride, and Jill madefun of her umbrella because it was three and eleven-pence, and the wiresbulged out. She said, `I can't think why it is that I always lose silkones, and I can't get rid of this wretched thing, do what I will!' Ithought, "--Pam's voice sounded a tremulous note of disappointment--"Ithought you would all be pleased with me for clearing them away. "

"It would have been different, dear, if you had asked our permission, though we all have to put up with shabby things sometimes. As it was, it was both wrong and dishonest to take things which belonged to otherpeople, and sell them without permission. "

"But I sold my own too! My blue coat and hat, because you said yourselfthey didn't suit me, and you couldn't bear to see them on. I heard youspeaking to Betty, and saying those very words. I thought you'd bepleased if you never did see them again!"

Mrs Trevor gasped in consternation. 

"Oh, Pam, Pam, what am I to say to you? This is worse than I imagined!Your blue coat--and it was quite good still! I can't possibly accept apresent obtained in such a way!"

She cast an appealing glance at her husband, who had been sittingcovering his mouth with his hand, and trying in vain to subdue thetwinkle in his eyes as he listened to Pam's extraordinary confession. Now he looked at the child's frightened, shrinking face, and saidkindly--

"I think Pam and I will have a quiet talk together while you adjourn tothe drawing-room. She did not mean to do wrong, and I am sure she willnever offend again in the same way when she understands things in theirright light. "

So Mrs Trevor and the elder children went to the drawing-room, and, tenminutes later, a subdued little Pam crept up to her mother's side, holding out a bright crown-piece on her palm. 

"Father says General Digby would like me best to pay my debts. Will youplease give some to the others to pay for the things I took?"

"Thank you, Pam. I shall be very pleased to do so, " said Mrs Trevorquietly. Her heart ached at being obliged to take the child's fortunefrom her, but she knew it was the right thing to do, and would not allowherself to hesitate. "And now, darling, I shall be delighted to havethe palm. It is indeed the very thing I wanted. "

Pam tried to smile, but her lips quivered. A whole crown-piece, and anew one into the bargain! A Vanderbilt deprived of his millions couldnot have felt his poverty more bitterly than she did at that moment!

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

THE CONCERT. 

Next afternoon Betty left Jill engaged in filling up the blanks in herChristmas letters, and Pam lovingly dressing up Pamela junior in hervarious costumes, and, accompanied by her father and Miles, called forCynthia and set out to walk across the Park to the Albert Hall, whereMiss Beveridge and a friend had arranged to meet them in the box. 

Cynthia looked delightfully graceful and pretty in a blue costume andhat, which had already caused Betty many pangs of envy, and perhaps itwas a remembrance of his own youth which made Dr Trevor pass his handthrough Betty's arm and lead her ahead, so that his son should have thepleasure of a talk with this very charming little lady. Miles was thebest of good fellows, all solid goodness and worth, but he was still inthe boorish stage, and it would do him good to be drawn out of himself, and forced to play the gallant. 

Miles himself was by no means sure that he approved of the arrangement. He would have preferred to walk behind Cynthia, and admire her prettyhair, her tiny feet, and the general air of daintiness which was to himthe greatest charm of all, but he had not the slightest idea what tosay, and thought of the long walk before him with something approachingconsternation. Fortunately for him Cynthia was not in the least shy, and had so seldom an opportunity of talking to anyone of her own age, that she could have chattered away the whole afternoon without theslightest difficulty. 

"It isn't often _you_ have a holiday, is it?" she said, smiling at himin her bright, friendly manner. "Once when I was up very early I sawyou going out before six o'clock, and now if I'm awake I hear the doorslam--you do slam it very loudly, you know!--and know it is you goingout to your work. It makes me feel so lazy, because I am supposed to dohalf an hour's practising before nine o'clock breakfast, and I do feelit such a penance. "

Miles laughed shortly. 

"Did you ever see me coming back?" he inquired, and when Cynthia nodded, with a twinkle in her eye--"Betty was afraid you would believe I was a_real_ workman, " he told her. "She thought you would put us down asquite impossible people, having a workman living in the house!"

"Betty is a goose, " said Betty's new friend cheerily, "but she is a nicegoose. I like her. I guessed you were learning to be an engineer, because I have a cousin who did the same. I like a man to do manlywork. I suppose you are dreadfully interested in all those noisyengines and things. Tell me about them. "

It was rather a large order, and Miles would have answered shortlyenough if an ordinary acquaintance had put such a question, but therewas a magnetism about Cynthia which broke down reserve, and to his ownastonishment he found himself answering quite easily and naturally. 

"I am not studying for railway engineering--I am going in for mines. It's a different course altogether, and in some ways much moredifficult. There seems nothing that a mining engineer ought not toknow--assaying, and surveying, and everything to do with minerals, and, of course, a thorough understanding of pumps, and all the machineryemployed. Then he ought to know something about doctoring, and evencooking, if he wants to be an all-round success, for ten to one he willbe sent to some out-of-the-way wilderness where there is no one else tolook after the comfort of his men--"

"Is that what you intend to do? Go and bury yourself at the end of theworld?"

"I expect so--any time after the next six months. I shall have finishedmy course by that time, and be on the look-out for the first openingthat comes!"

"What will Betty do without you?"

Betty's brother shrugged his shoulders with the unconcern with which, itis to be feared, most lads regard their sisters' feelings. 

"Oh, she'll get used to it! It's no use sticking at home if one wantsto get on in the world. I should never be content to jog along in asecondary position all my life, as some fellows do. I don't care howhard I work, but I mean to get to the very top of the tree!"

"Wish I'd been born a boy! It must be delicious to rough it in thewilds, " sighed Cynthia, stepping daintily over a puddle, and lookingdown with concern to see if perchance there was a splash on her boots. "Boys have much the best of it; they have a chance of doing somethinggreat in the world, while girls have to stay at home and--darn theirsocks! All the great things are done by men--in war, in science, indiscovery, even in art and literature, though a few women may equal themthere. All the great things are made by men, too, the wonderfulcathedrals and buildings, and the great bridges and battleships--all thebig things. There's so little left for us. "

Miles looked at her beneath drawn brows, his rugged face softening withthe smile that Betty loved to see. 

"And who makes the men?" he asked simply, and Cynthia peered at him instartled, eager fashion, and cried--

"You mean--_we_ do? Women, mothers and sisters and wives? Is _that_what you mean? Oh, I _do_ think you say nice things!" (Shy, silent oldMiles being accused of saying "nice things" to a member of the oppositesex! Wonders will never cease!) "I shall remember that, next time I seea lucky boy pass by rattling the railings, and looking as if the worldbelonged to him, while I must stand behind the curtains, because it'snot `lady-like' to stare out of the windows! I do ramp and ragesometimes!"

Miles' laugh rang out so merrily that Betty turned to stare inamazement. The idea of Cynthia doing anything so violent as "ramp andrage" seemed impossible to realise, as one looked at her dainty figureand sweet pink-and-white face. All the same it was a pleasure to findthat she did not belong to the wax-doll type of girl, but had a will anda temper of her own. 

"Yes, you may laugh, " she cried, laughing herself, "but it's quite true. Or perhaps it would be more `lady-like' to say that I feel like `acaged bird, ' as people do in books. In future I shall console myselfwith the thought that I may be the lever which supplies the force. Isthat simile right, or ridiculously wrong? It's rash of me to useengineering terms before you. I mean that I'll try to be a goodinfluence to some man, and so inspire work, if I can't do it myself. The worst is, I know so few men! Father is abroad, all our relationsare far away, and until I come out I seem to meet nothing but girls, oldand young. Of course, if I got to know you better, I might influence_you_!"

She turned her laughing face upon him, the face of a frank, innocentchild, for, though she was nearly seventeen years old, Cynthia wasabsolutely innocent of the flirtatious instinct which is strong in somelittle girls in the coral and pinafore stage. She offered herfriendship to Betty's brother as composedly as she had done to Bettyherself; it was Miles who blushed, and stared at the pavement, and hisvoice sounded hoarse and difficult as he mumbled his reply--

"I wish you--I'm sure I should--awfully good thing for me if you did!"

"Very well; but you will have to do great things, remember! I shan't besatisfied with anything less. It will be good for me too, for I shallhave to be very stern with myself, if I am to influence someone else. What are your chief faults? I ought to know, oughtn't I, so as to beable to set to work the right way?"

She was so deliciously naive and outspoken, that once again Miles' rarelaugh rang out, and once again Betty marvelled, and felt a thrill ofenvy. 

By the time that the Albert Hall was reached, the two young people hadprogressed so far towards intimacy that Miles had forgotten his shyness, and confided to his new mentor some of the trials and grievances whichbeset him in his work, the which he had never before confided in a humanbeing. The attraction of one sex to another is a natural and beautifulthing. God designed it as one of the great forces in His universe, andan almost omnipotent power it is, either for good or evil. Do the girlswho jest and frivol with the young men with whom they are brought incontact, realise their responsibility in all they say and do? Do theyever reflect that the beauty and charm which they possess are weaponswith which God has endowed them, --weapons which may have more power inthe battle of life than a two-edged sword? Laugh and be merry--enjoythe sunshine of your youth; it is a sin to see a young thing sad; butnever, never, as you value your womanhood, speak a slighting orirreverent word against God's great laws of righteousness, nor allowsuch a word to pass unreproved in your presence. Remember in the midstof your merry-making to preserve your dignity as women, knowing that byso doing you will not lose, but trebly strengthen your hold on any manworthy of the name. Say to yourself, dear girls--"With God's help Iwill be a good angel to this man, who has to meet trials and temptationsfrom which I am exempt. So far as in me lies I will make him respectall women, and help, not hinder him in his work. " It isn't necessary tobe prim and proper--don't think that! The Misses Prunes and Prisms, whoare always preaching, weary rather than help, but when the bright, sweet-natured girl, who loves a joke, and can be the whole-heartedcompanion of a summer day, speaks a word of reproof, or draws back froma proposed enterprise, her action carries with it a treble weight ofinfluence. 

When the whole party were seated in the box--Miss Beveridge and Betty inthe front row, Cynthia and governess number two in the second, and thetwo "men" at the back--Miles had little attention to spare for themusic, so absorbed was he in gazing at Cynthia's delicately-cut profile, and in weaving about her the halo of a young man's first romance. Therewas no romance in the two girls; they were absorbed in admiration of thewonderful building itself, in enjoyment of the music, and in anxiety todo their duty to dear Mrs Vanburgh's "Govies, " as they irreverentlytermed Miss Beveridge and her companion. Even when on pleasure bent, the former could not be called "responsive. " When asked, "Do you likemusic?" she replied curtly, "No! I teach it!" which reduced thequestioner to stupid silence, though her thoughts were active enough. 

"Oh, indeed! That's one for me, as I am a pupil still! It's thestupidity of pupils which has made her dislike music, but then--why doesshe come to a concert? Why couldn't she have had the decency to refuse, and let someone else have the ticket? Oh, I do dislike you--you cold, --cutting, disagreeable, ungrateful, snappy old thing!"

Betty sat back in her chair and let her eyes rest on Miss Beveridge'sprofile, as that lady in her turn stared fixedly at the orchestra. Shewas wearing quite "a decent little toque, " and had taken pains with thearrangement of her hair. Betty was at the stage when she imagined thatit was impossible that life could retain any interest after the age ofthirty, but it dawned upon her now that, at some far-off, prehistoricperiod, Miss Beveridge had been handsome--even very handsome, which madeher present condition all the more pitiable. Suppose, just suppose fora moment, that one became old and lonely, and poor and plain and snappy, oneself! It was too horrible a prospect to be believed; much moresatisfactory to take refuge in the usual rose-coloured dreams!

The Royal Box was close at hand--empty, unfortunately, of interestingoccupants. How would it feel to be a princess, and loll back in one'schair, conscious of being the cynosure of every eye? Betty lolled, andtried to project herself into the position, pleasingly conscious of anew blouse, quite immaculate suede gloves, and Cynthia's buckle showingits dull blues and reds at the front of her belt. She turned her headslowly from side to side, and cultivated a charming smile. --"PrincessElizabeth appeared in the Royal Box, looking as fascinating as ever in acostume of her favourite grey. --"

The musical programme was interesting and varied, but during the secondhalf of the concert the cheerfulness of the scene was sadly marred bythe ever-increasing fog which crept in from without, filling the vastinterior with a gloom against which the many lights seemed powerless tocontend. Dr Trevor began to feel a little nervous about the safety ofhis party, and suggested making a move before the end of the concert, but Miss Beveridge insisted that she and her friend needed no escorthome. 

"It would have to be a very bad fog to frighten us. We are accustomedto going about town in all weathers, " she declared, and this was soobviously the case that it seemed affectation to protest. The doctortherefore explained that as he was in charge of Cynthia he wished toallay her mother's natural anxiety as soon as possible, and the youngpeople bade farewell to their guests of the afternoon and hurrieddownstairs. 

Early though it was, hundreds of people seemed to have been inspired bythe same fears, for the stairway was thronged and the passagesdownstairs were becoming momentarily blocked. Dr Trevor tuckedCynthia's hand through his arm. 

"Look after your sister, Miles, " he cried, turning a quick glance overhis shoulder. "I'm afraid it's very thick. Keep close behind me if youcan. In any case make the best of your way home. "

A moment later they passed through the doorway into a world of blackgloom, in which phantom shapes at one moment pressed against one, and atthe next vanished utterly from sight. 

Betty gave a little cry of dismay, for, London-bred as she was, neverbefore had she been out of doors in such an impenetrable fog. She putout her hand towards the spot where Miles had stood a moment before, buther fingers gripped nothing more substantial than air. She gave a quickleap forward, and clutching at a shadowy coat-sleeve shook it violently, calling out in accents half-frightened, half-angry--

"Miles, how horrid of you! You must not stalk on ahead like that! Ishall be lost, and then what will become of me? For pity's sake keephold of my arm!"

She had walked a few paces forward as she spoke, but now she stoppedshort, in response to a determined movement of the arm to which sheclung. Betty glanced upwards in surprise; she could not see the face sonear to her arm, but the blood chilled in her veins as a strange voiceanswered slowly--

"But--I'm sorry, but I do not happen to be Miles!"

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

LOST IN THE FOG. 

The feeling of despair, of helplessness, of desolation, which overcameBetty at that moment, remained with her as a poignant memory to the endof her life. She was lost, as hopelessly lost as if she had been in themidst of a solitary waste, though close at hand, perhaps only a fewyards away, were her own father and brother, the latter no doubtdesperately searching for her. Dr Trevor would make the best of hisway home with Cynthia, knowing his son to be as good a guide as himself. Poor old Miles! He would have a bad time of it when he arrived homealone;--yet he had not been to blame, for she herself had refused totake his arm before leaving the Hall. "It looked so silly!" She hadintended to take it the moment they were in the street, but even thatone moment had been too long. As she heard the stranger's voice sheturned in a panic of fear, and tried to drag her hand from his arm, buthe held her tightly, saying, with an odd mixture of weariness andimpatience--

"Don't be foolish! You can do no good by running away. You can neverfind your friends again in this blackness. Tell me where you want togo, and I'll try to help you. "

Betty trembled helplessly. 

"But I must--I must try! It's a long way off--across the Park. Fatheris here, and my brother, and some friends. I'll go back to the Hall--they may go there to look for me. "

"Look round!" said the strange voice, and Betty turned her head andstared in amazement, for the great building had vanished as completelyas had Miles himself, and nothing was to be seen but a wall of darkness. On every side she heard the movement of invisible forms, but their veryunreality added to the sense of desolation which possessed her. It wasterrible even to think of venturing alone through the ghost-like ranks. 

Instinctively she clung more closely to her companion's arm, and, as ifrecognising her feelings, his voice took a gentler, more reassuringtone. 

"Don't be afraid. I had a sister of my own once. You can trust me tosee you safely home. I am afraid it is no earthly use trying to findyour friends among all the thousands who are leaving the Hall. Bettertell me where you live, so that we can get there as soon as the rest ofyour party, and save them needless alarm. Across the Park, you said?The gates will be closed, of course, and in any case that would be thelast route to take. Tell me your exact address. "

"Brompton Square--we turn off at Stanhope Terrace, just past theLancaster Gate Station. It is one of those squares lying between thePark and Edgware Road. "

"I know, I know. Its a long walk, but perhaps it will get lighter as wego on. These dense fogs are often very local. Keep tight hold of myarm, please. If we are once separated, it might not be easy to meetagain. "

"No, indeed! I could not have believed it was so easy to get lost. Mybrother was beside me one instant, the next--it was your coat-sleeve! Ihope I did not shake it too violently! I was so nervous and frightenedI did not think what I was doing. "

She laughed as she spoke, her youthful spirits beginning to assertthemselves again, as her confidence was assured. The face of hercompanion was unknown, but the tone of that quite, "Don't be afraid, Ihad a sister of my own, " had put an end to her fears. Here was anadventure indeed--a full-fledged adventure! In anticipation she feltthe joys of relating her experiences to a breathless audience in theschoolroom, and thrilled with importance. The stranger did not echo herlaugh, however, but merely murmured a few words of conventionaldisclaimer and relapsed into silence. Betty could hear him sigh now andthen as they made their way onward--slowly feeling the way from point topoint through the eerie, all-enveloping gloom. Sometimes a briefquestion to a link-boy would assure them that they were still on theright road; sometimes they wandered off the pavement and were suddenlyaware of the champing of horses dangerously near at hand; sometimes fora minute or two they stood still, waiting to find a clue to theirposition; but through all the strange man preserved an unbroken silence, until Betty's nerve gave way again, and she cried in plaintive, child-like fashion--

"Oh, please would you mind talking a little bit! I'm frightened. It'slike a dreadful nightmare, feeling one's way through this darkness--andwhen you are so silent, I feel as if you were a ghost like all the rest, instead of a real live man. "

"I wish I were!" returned the stranger bitterly. Then recoveringhimself with an effort, "I beg your pardon, " he said. "I am afraid Ihave been very remiss. To tell the truth, I was lost in my own thoughtswhen you came to me a few minutes ago, and I am afraid I had gone backto them, and forgotten that I had a companion!"

Forgotten! Forgotten her very existence! A young man rescues abeauteous maid--really and truly she had looked unusually well in allher smart Christmas farings--from a position of deadly peril, andstraightway forgets her very existence! This part of the story, atleast, must be omitted from the home recital. Betty pursed her lips inoffended dignity, but in the end curiosity got the better of herannoyance, and she said tentatively--

"They must have been very nice thoughts!"

"Nice!"

The foolish girl's word was repeated in a tone of bitterest satire. 

"Interesting, then?"

"In so far as the last of anything is interesting, be the beginning whatit may!"

"The last!" It was Betty's turn to play the part of echo, as she staredin amazement at the shadowy form by her side. "How could they be yourlast thoughts? You seem quite well and strong. It isn't possible to goon living and not to think. "

"No, it is not, and therefore when thoughts become unbearable--"

He stopped short, and Betty felt a thrill of foreboding. The strangesilence, followed by the hopeless bitterness in the stranger's voice, seemed to bespeak some trouble of overwhelming magnitude, and, viewed inthat light, his last words admitted of only one conclusion. Life hadbecome unbearable, and therefore he had decided to end it. HithertoBetty had carelessly classed all suicides as mad; but this man was notmad; he was, on the contrary, remarkably sane and quiet in manner! Hewas only so hopelessly, helplessly miserable that it did not seempossible to endure another day's existence. Betty thrilled with astrange new feeling of awe and responsibility. The hidden strength ofher nature, which had come to her as the result of being brought up towomanhood in a household dedicated to God and His Christ, broke throughthe veneer of youthful folly, and came triumphantly to the surface. 

Her nervous fear dropped from her like a mantle, and she was possessedby a burning longing to comfort and save. In the midst of the fog anddarkness God had sent to her a great opportunity. She rose to it with adignity which seemed to set the restless, self-centred Betty of an hourago years behind. Her fingers tightened on the stranger's arm; shespoke in firm, quiet tones. 

"I can guess what you mean! Forgive me for teasing you with my sillyquestions when you are in such trouble. Do you think you could tell mewhat it is? It seems a strange thing to ask, but I am no real personto-night. I am just a shadow that has come out of the fog. I have noteven a face or a name. You might speak to me as safely as to the airitself, and it might be a relief to put it into words. It is sosometimes when one is in trouble. "

There was a moment's silence, then--

"Thank you, " he said in a softened voice. "It's kind of you to think ofit. You might have condemned me at once, as not fit to speak to a girllike you. You are only a girl, aren't you? Your voice sounds veryyoung. "

"Yes, only eighteen--nearly eighteen. But my father is a doctor, so Iam always being brought near to sad things, and sometimes I feel quiteold. I think I could understand if you told me your trouble. "

"Suppose it was not so much sorrow as sin? What then? What can you ateighteen--`nearly eighteen'--know of that? You could not understand ifI did speak. "

"Oh yes, I could. I sin myself--often!" cried Betty, with a swiftremembrance of all those little things done or left undone which madethe failure of her home life. "A girl living at home, with a father anda mother to look after her, has no temptation to any big thing, but it'sjust as bad, if she is idle and selfish and ungrateful, and I am allthree together many times over. I'd be too proud to say that to you ifI saw your face and knew your name; but, as I said before, we are onlyshadows in a dream to-night. It doesn't matter what we say. Tell meyour trouble, and let me try to understand. It isn't because I amcurious--it isn't really! Do you believe that?"

"Yes, " he said instantly, "I do! Poor child, you want to help; but I ampast that. I have ruined my own life and the life of the man who hasbeen my best friend. I have had my chance--a better chance than isgiven to most men--and I have made an utter failure of it. If I--wenton, it would mean starting again from the very beginning, with thestigma of failure to hinder me at every turn--a hopeless fight. "

"But, "--Betty's voice faltered nervously--"isn't it cowardly to run awayjust when the fight is hardest? A soldier would be called a traitor ifhe did that. And what would come afterwards? Do you believe that youhave a right to take your own life?"

"You mean from a religious point of view. I'm afraid that's out of myline. I have lost what little faith I had in these last few years. Youbelieve in it all, of course--it's natural for a girl--but to me theidea of a personal God is as unreal as a fairy tale. It does not touchmy position. "

"But just suppose for a moment that it _were_ true. Suppose He doesexist, and has been longing to help you all this time--what then?" criedBetty earnestly, and her companion gave a short, derisive laugh. 

"It would have been easy enough for Him to have prevented all thistrouble! I can see no help in the story of the last few years. Everything has gone against me. In the beginning I borrowed somemoney--of course, it's a case of money--to help a friend who was in atight fix. That was innocent enough. But when the time came round Icould not repay the debt, and in my position it was fatally easy to helpmyself to what I needed. I called it just another loan. I was sure ofrepaying it before anything was discovered, but again it was impossible, for there were calls upon me which I had not expected. If I had beenshort in my accounts I should have lost my situation, and it was ahandsome one for a man of my age. You won't understand the details, butI began to speculate, to put off the evil hour, always hoping for a_coup_ which would put everything right; but it never came. I was nothelped, you see! Things went from bad to worse, until I could go on nolonger. Then in despair I confessed the whole story to my friend--he isa near relation also, but that is by the way. He would not allow thefamily name to be disgraced; he paid up all that was due, and saved methe shame of prosecution, but even he could do no more. I am sent aboutmy business--a felon in deed, though not in name. Incidentally, too, heis ruined. He must give up his house, remove his children to cheapschools, live in poverty instead of ease. Naturally enough he will haveno more to do with me. There is not a soul on earth who would regret meif I passed out of being to-night. "

There was a long silence while the strangely-matched couple wended theirway slowly along the bisecting roads which lead from Kensington HighStreet to Bayswater Road. The fog had slightly lessened by this time, but it was still too dense to show anything but a dim outline ofpassers-by, and the face of the stranger was but a blur against thedarkness to Betty's searching eyes. Her heart was beating rapidly; shewas praying with a whole-hearted earnestness unknown to her usualmorning and evening supplications--praying to be guided to say the rightthing to save this man's soul from despair. At last--

"You say you were not helped, " she began timidly; "but if yourspeculations had succeeded as you hoped, it might not have been reallygood for you. It would have been easier, of course, but if all had gonesmoothly you might have been tempted to do the same thing another time. Perhaps God knew that, and that there was no way of bringing you back toHimself except through trouble. "

The stranger laughed again--his hard, mirthless little laugh. 

"I am afraid I can hardly believe in that theory. I can see no reasonfor believing that my doings are the slightest interest to Him, or thatHe cares in the least what becomes of me. "

"Can't you!" cried Betty eagerly. "Oh, I can! Just think morecarefully, and you will remember many, many things which you have notstopped to notice at the time. To-night, for instance! Do you think itchance that I missed my brother, and came to you out of all the hundredsof people who were around? _I_ don't! I believe God sent me to youbecause you would not speak to anyone you knew; because you needed helpso badly--and I need it, too--and we could help each other. "

The shadowy head bent nearer to hers, and the arm pressed against herhand. 

"Thank you, " said the voice in a softened key; "that is a kind thought!It is quite true that I could not have spoken as I have done underordinary circumstances. When I met you I was going straight for thenearest water. There are many places where an accident might easilyoccur on a night like this. I do not wish to make any scandal, only todisappear. "

Betty drew in her breath sharply. The sound of that one word "water"gave a definite touch to the situation, and thereby trebly increased itstragedy, but the gentleness of the voice gave her increased hope, andshe cried eagerly--

"Disappear, yes! I can understand it would be difficult to stay amongthe old surroundings, but why not disappear _to come back_ another day, when you can redeem the past? Suppose you went away to a strange place, and worked hard, oh, very hard, and denied yourself every possiblething, so as to save up money. Suppose you succeeded--when people areterribly in earnest about a thing, they generally _do_ succeed--and insome years' time could pay off what you owe! That would be braver thankilling yourself, wouldn't it? That would be worth living for. Or ifit took too long to pay it back in your friend's lifetime, he haschildren, and you could help them as their father has helped you. Thatwould be paying back the debt in the way he would like best. Think ofit! They would imagine you dead, or perhaps worse than dead, but theywouldn't be angry with you any more; people don't go on being angry foryears and years, especially if they are good and kind, as your friendsmust be. But some day it might happen that they were in trouble, orgetting old and tired, and feeling it was hard to go on working, and aletter would come in-- from you--and inside that letter there would be acheque, and they would be so happy, and so thankful, and so _helped_!And they would send for you to come back, and the old trouble would bewiped away, and they would honour you for your brave fight. Oh, youwill--you _will_! You must do it! Promise, promise that you will!"

Her voice broke into a sob, and something like a faint echo of the soundcame to her ears through the darkness. It seemed the most promisinganswer she could have had, in its contrast from the biting self-possession of a few minutes before. Her heart beat high with hope. 

"Is there any place to which you could go? Have you enough money leftto take you there?" she questioned, as if the matter were alreadysettled, and, consciously or unconsciously, the stranger replied in thesame vein. 

"I have an old friend in America; he would help me to a start. I have agood many possessions left; they would bring in enough to pay thepassage if--"

"No, there is no `if'! Don't let yourself say it! Sell the things to-morrow, and begin again in a new world, in a new way. Believe that God_does_ care, and that it is a chance that He has given you, and everynight and every morning, oh, and so often through the day, I shallremember you, and pray that you may be helped! Sometimes when you feellonely you may be glad to know that one person in the Old Country knowsall about you, and is waiting to see the reward of your work. You mustlet me know when the success comes. I shall always be waiting; andremember, this talk is going to do me good too! I have _made_ troublesfor myself because I did not know how well off I was, but now that Ihave come so close to the real thing I shall be ashamed to grizzle overtrifles. It _is_ settled, isn't it? You are going on fighting?"

There was a long silence. She could feel rather than see the strugglein the man's face, but the pressure tightened on her hand, foretellingthat the decision would be what she wished. 

"Yes, " he said slowly at last. "I promise! An hour ago it seemed as ifthere was not a soul in the world who cared whether I lived or died, butas you say you came to me--in the darkness! You think you were sent. My old mother would have thought the same. I don't know, I can't tell, but it may be so, and that gives me courage to try again. "

He paused for a moment or two, then suddenly--

"What is your name?" he asked. 

"Betty!"

"Betty!" His voice lingered over the pretty, girlish name. "Thank you, Betty!"

"And yours?"

"Ralph. "

"Thank you, Ralph! You have given me something real to think of inlife--something to look forward to. "

"Ah!" He drew a long, stabbing breath. "But at the best it will be along waiting. You will be far from eighteen--`nearly eighteen'--beforeI can hope for success. The years will seem very long. "

"But they will pass!" cried Betty. "I can wait!"

She was in a state of exaltation when no trial of patience seemed toogreat to face, and difficulties presented themselves only as gloriousopportunities; but the man, who had experienced the heat and burden ofthe day, sighed, and was silent. 

By this time they had made their way past the great houses standing backfrom the road, and were close on the Lancaster Gate Station of theCentral London Railway. A faint light streamed into the gloom from theglass fanlight, and for the first time Betty began to feel that she trodon familiar ground. 

"Ah, here we are; if we go round this corner I shall be home in fiveminutes. Perhaps we shall arrive before the others, after all. Youhave brought me so quickly that there is no time for them to have beenanxious, unless Miles went in alone. "

The stranger did not answer. They turned round the corner of StanhopeTerrace and walked along for twenty or thirty yards, then suddenly hestood still, and dropped her arm. 

"I may never meet you again, " he said slowly; "in all probability wenever shall meet, but before we part, let me see your face, Betty!"

There was a sound of a match being struck against the side of a box, then a tiny flame flickered up in the darkness. Betty gazed upwardsinto a face still young, but haggard and drawn with suffering, a longthin face with deep-set eyes and a well-cut chin. 

"Now, now, now, " she was saying breathlessly to herself. "I mustnotice! I must remember! I shall have to remember for so many years--"

The flame quivered and faded away. 

"Thank you, " said the stranger quietly. "I shall remember!" Evidentlyhis thoughts and hers had followed the same course. 

They walked along slowly side by side, but no longer arm in arm, forthat momentary exchange of glances had brought a touch of personalembarrassment into the situation which had been unfelt before. Bettywas anxiously pondering what to say in farewell, feeling at the sametime that further words would be more likely to mar than to aid theimpression already made, when suddenly a form loomed through thedarkness, and a well-known "Coo-ee" sounded in her ears. 

"Miles--oh, Miles! I'm here! Oh, Miles, I am so glad! I was sofrightened, but this gentleman has been so kind. He has brought me allthe way home. "

Miles grunted discourteously; he disapproved of stray acquaintances forhis sister, and now that anxiety for her safety was assuaged, began tofeel aggrieved at having been frightened for nothing. 

"What on earth did you mean by rushing off by yourself? Might have beenlost all night. I've been hanging about for an age, not daring to gointo the house and scare the mater. Never go out with you again in afog!"

Betty laughed merrily. 

"I can return that compliment. It seems to me that you ran away fromme. " She turned to hold out her hand to the stranger. "Now that mybrother is here I need not trouble you any more. Good-bye! Thank youvery much!"

"Thank you!" he said earnestly. "Good-bye until--a brighter day. "

"What does that bounder mean by talking of another day? Cheek!" gruntedMiles, leading the way onward, but Betty only pressed his arm andreplied irrelevantly--

"Don't say anything about our having missed each other when we first goin, Miles. I'll tell mother quietly. I'd rather, if you don't mind. "

Miles did not mind a bit--in fact, he was thankful to be sparedquestioning and reproach, so he made his way upstairs to his room, whileBetty entered the study, where Dr and Mrs Trevor were seated. 

"Here we are, safe and sound! It has been adventurous, but all's wellthat ends well. Have you been anxious, mother dear? I do hope not. "

She bent to kiss her mother with an unwonted tenderness, which brought aflush of pleasure into the thin cheek. 

"How sweet that child looks to-night! Did you notice?" she said to herhusband when they were once more alone. "And she was so gentle andconsiderate. It's such a pleasure to see her like that, for she issometimes so difficult. "

Dr Trevor smiled. 

"She is mellowing, dear, she is mellowing! I told you it would come. The child is turning into a woman--and a bonnie woman she will be too. Dear little Betty!"

And in the shelter of her attic bedroom the child woman was holding alighted candle before the looking-glass, and staring half abashed intoan oval face with dilated eyes, and dark hair twisted by the damp into acloud of tiny ringlets. 

"Did he--did he think me--nice?" she was asking of herself. 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

THE SISTERS. 

Upon the first quiet opportunity Betty confided the history of her walkto her mother, who listened with the deepest interest and sympathy. 

"It was a great opportunity, dear, and you made the most of it. I amproud of my daughter, " she said. "I will join with you in praying thatthe poor fellow may be kept true to his pledge. It's not the first stepwhich costs in these struggles, whatever the proverb may say; thehardest part of the fight comes later on, when the first excitement isover, and progress seems so pitifully slow. So don't let yourself growweary in well-doing, dear Betty. Your poor friend will need yourprayers more and more, not less and less. "

"Oh no, I shall never grow tired, " said Betty confidently. Then herface clouded, and she sighed. "Mother, do you suppose I shall ever--seehim again?"

"It is very unlikely, dear. He is going so far away, and will have nomoney to spare for visits home. It must be a large sum which he has torepay, if the loss of it necessitated such a change in his friend'shousehold. With everything in his favour it would take a long time toearn. "

"How long, mother?"

"Dear child, what a question! It is impossible to say. It would beextraordinary, I should think, if he managed it in less than a dozenyears. "

"A dozen years! I should be thirty! I shall be hideous at thirty, "thought Betty ruefully, recalling the vision of the sweet, flushed facewhich had looked at her from the mirror the day before. Could it bepossible that a dozen years--twelve whole years--could pass by withoutbringing her any tidings of "Ralph"? In the state of exaltation whichhad possessed her last night she had felt raised above the need ofwords, but already reaction had set in, and with it a strange sense ofdepression at the thought of the future. 

It was good to know that there was Cynthia to talk to--Cynthia, whomight not be able to advise and strengthen as wisely as mother did, butwho was a girl, and knew how girls felt--"up and down, and in and out, and--oh, and so topsy-turvy upside down!" thought poor Betty to herself. 

A breathless, "I want to speak to you; I have something dreadfullyinteresting to tell!" whispered in a chance encounter in the street, brought an immediate invitation to tea `in my own room, where we shan'tbe bothered'; and under these happy auspices the adventure was once morerelated, while Cynthia's grey eyes grew wide with excitement. 

"Dear Betty, how glorious for you!" she cried ecstatically. "What awonderful thing to remember! You can never be blue again, and say thatyou are no use in the world. To have saved a man's life, and startedhim on the right road--at eighteen--not eighteen! You are the mostfortunate girl in the whole world! It's so strange that this chanceshould have come to you on that particular day, because your brother andI had been talking about the different work of men and women as wewalked over the Park to the Albert Hall, and he said that if it wasmen's province to make the greatest things in the world, it was women'swork to make the men; and that was what you did, Betty dear. You helpedGod to make a man!"

Betty raised her brows in a surprise which was not altogether agreeable. 

"Miles--_Miles_ said so! How extraordinary! He never talks like thatto me, and he hardly knew you at all. However did you come to discusssuch a subject?"

"I asked him about his work, and envied him for being able to dosomething real. He is a nice boy. I like him very much, " said Cynthiaplacidly. 

Imagine being favoured with confidences from Miles, and remaining quitecool and unconcerned! For a good two moments Betty forgot all about herown affairs in sheer wonder at such an astonishing state of mind. Thenremembrance came back, and she asked eagerly--

"Cynthia, do you think I shall ever hear anything more about him?Mother says it will take years and years to save so much money. Do youthink I shall ever know?"

"Yes!" said Cynthia confidently. "Of course you will know. He willfind some way of telling you. You told him your address, so it was theeasiest thing in the world to find out your name. You will getsomething from him every year--perhaps on Christmas Day, perhaps insummer, perhaps on the anniversary of the night. It may be only anewspaper, it may be a letter, it may be just a flower--like the man in_The Prisoner of Zenda_ sent to the princess, but it will be_something_! He mayn't sign his name or give his address, but he willwant you to know--he will feel you ought to know that he is alive andremembering. "

Oh, the beauty of a girl confidante! How truly she understands the artof comfort!

"And shall I ever see him again?"

"Yes--if you both live. He will want to see you again more thananything in the world, except paying off his debt. When that is done, he will rush straight off to you and say, `Here I am. I have workedhard and kept my promise. To-day I can look the whole world in theface, for I owe not any man. I have regained my friend and my position, and it is your doing. _You_ saved me! All these years the thought ofyou has been my inspiration. I have lived in the thought of seeing yourface again--'"

"Oh, oh, oh!" cried Betty, gasping. "And I shall be hideous, Cynthia, hideous! Fancy, I may be thirty! What will he think, when he sees meso changed?"

"He won't mind a bit--they never do. He will say, `Though worn andhaggard, you are still in my eyes the most beautiful woman in theworld!'" cried Cynthia. 

And then, being only eighteen--nearly eighteen--each girl suddenlydescended from her high horse, and went off into peal after peal oflaughter, merry, heart-whole laughter, which floated to Mrs Alliot'sears as she lay on her couch in the drawing-room, and brought a smile toher pale face. This new friendship was doing great things for herlonely girl!

Towards the end of the Christmas holidays the great news circulated thatMrs Vanburgh was coming home, and bringing her two younger sisters fora few weeks' shopping in town. Agatha and Christabel had just returnedfrom two years' sojourn abroad, and were presumably "finished" youngladies. Cynthia and Betty wondered how much finished, and whetherfinished enough to look down with contempt upon unfinished damsels stillundergoing the thraldom of "classes!"

It was a thrilling occasion when they were bidden to tea "to meet mysisters, " and Betty felt she would hardly have had courage to face theordeal but for the fact of a new blouse and that fascinating buckle onher belt. She had a sensation of being all arms and legs--a horrible, almost forgotten remnant of schoolroom days--as she crossed MrsVanburgh's drawing-room to be introduced to the two strange figures onthe sofa. 

One was dark and one was fair; both possessed a wonderful wealth ofbeautiful glossy hair, gold in the one case, in the other brown, rollingback from the brow in upstanding pompadours, which were, however, morepicturesque than stiff, and rolled into coil after coil at the back ofthe neck. Done-up hair--that was very "finished" indeed! Both weredistinctly good-looking, and the younger, though the smaller of the two, possessed a personality which at once seemed to constitute her mistressof the ceremonies. Both were perfectly at ease, and so full ofconversation that they talked both at the same time, emphasising everysecond or third word after a quaint fashion of their own which Bettyfound very amusing. 

They were fear-fully pleased to see her. They had heard such _reams_about her from Nan. It was so charming for Nan to have girl friends. Nan was _devoted_ to girls. It was such _sport_ to be staying with Nan. They had been simply _dying_ to live in town. My dear, they had not a_rag_ to wear! Nobody wore decent clothes in Germany. Frumps, my dear, per-fect frumps! They were on their own allowance. Was Betty on herown allowance? Lucky girl! It was simply _agonising_ to have to buy_everything_ you needed on a quarter's allowance. They had lain awakefor _hours_ considering the problem. They were in _despair_! Nan hadgiven them each a dress for Christmas. Nan was an _angel_! They wantedNan to give a dance for them while they were in town. 

Betty's heart leapt, but Mrs Vanburgh shook her head, and said--

"Sorry, but Nan can't! Mother wouldn't like it, as you have only justleft school, and are not properly out yet. "

"Well, I shall _leak_ out, then! I am not going to wait another year, if I know it. There's a dance coming on at home in February, and I'mgoing to it, or my name is not Christabel Rendell. I'm going to buy adress and all the _et-ceteras_, and then mother won't have the _heart_to say No. Nan, if you won't give us a dance, what _are_ you going todo? You can't be so mean as to provide _no_ evening jollification!"

"My dear, remembah! You were a girl yourself!" echoed Agatha, in deep-toned remonstrance, and then they began rattling out a list ofsuggestions. 

"Tableaux--"

"Progressive games--"

"Dinner-party. No old fogies! We will choose the guests. "

"Music and conversation. You do the music, and we'll converse. "

"General frolic, and supper to finish up. If it develops into a dance, so much the better! It's not coming out to dance on a carpet. "

"Really, Nan, it's piteous to think how _stodgy_ you have grown!Married sisters are a delusion. We used to imagine coming to stay, anddoing whatever we liked, and eating all sorts of indigestible thingsthat we mayn't have at home. But now Maud can think of nothing but thatbaby, and you are so prim--too fearfully prim for words. "

"Prim!" shouted Mrs Vanburgh. There is really no other word to expressthe outraged indignation of her tone. To hear her, one might havesupposed it the greatest insult in the world to be accused of primnessof demeanour. "You dare to sit there and call me names in my own house!If I am prim, you had better go home and leave me. I wouldn't stay anylonger, if I'm prim. I'm sorry I asked you, if I'm prim. If I'm prim, I wonder why you ever wanted to come. Prim, indeed! If it's prim toknow what is correct and what is not, it's a pity you are not prim too!If I'm prim, I won't give any party at all. You had better sit roundthe fire and knit stockings, and I'll read aloud _The Old Helmet_, asI'm so prim. "

Christabel raised her hands to her ears in affected distraction. 

"Stop her, somebody--stop her for pity's sake! When she is once woundup like this she will go on for hours! My dear, I crawl, I _grovel_before you! You are _not_ prim! Nothing is further removed from yourcharacter. You are going to give us as many parties as we like. "

"Humph!" said Mrs Vanburgh shortly. She was by no means appeased, andduring the meal which followed ejaculations of "Prim--prim, indeed!"fell from her lips at intervals like so many minute-guns of indignation, while Christabel ate cakes and scones with undiminished zest, and smiledupon her with patronising indulgence. 

In relating the history of the afternoon to Jill, later on, Bettydeclared that she herself had not spoken a single sentence the wholeafternoon. She had exclaimed, "Really!" "Fancy!" "Goodness!" "Howkilling!" each about a hundred times over, had laughed and smiled, nodded her head and said "Yes" to a dozen propositions, had beenunceasingly amused and interested, but had never been allowed abreathing space in which to air her own opinions. 

It had been finally decided that "a general frolic" should be held onthe following Thursday evening, Christabel proposing, seconding, andtriumphantly carrying the resolution that each guest should comeprepared to entertain the company for a period of at least five minuteson end. The protesting groans and denials of her companions beat invain against the rock of her decision. She smiled graciously upon them, and cried--

"Rubbish! Of _course_ you can! Sing, play, dance, recite, read aloud, tell a story, show some new tricks; there's no _end_ to the things tochoose from, my deah! If you begin by protesting and excusing as youare doing now, there will be no time left. It will be too lovelay for_words_! A sit-down supper, Nan, --no light refreshments, please!--and, as a matter of precaution, as much furniture as possible moved out ofthe drawing-room. I can't think why you did not have a parquet floor!People grow so selfish and inconsiderate when they are married. _Piteous_, I call it!"

"Anything else?" queried Nan loftily. "Selfish, and inconsiderate, andprim, am I? Prim, indeed! I'll tell Gervase the moment he comes inwhat a wretched wife he has married! He'd never find it out forhimself. "

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

THE PARTY. 

"She may request as much as she likes; I'm not going! I wouldn't go ifI were paid for it!" was Miles' ungallant comment upon receipt of MrsVanburgh's invitation; but before he had time to pen his refusal, Cynthia, in her new character of mentor, issued her regal decree that itshould be turned into an acceptance. In vain he grumbled and protested;the silken chains never relaxed their hold. 

"Hate parties! Senseless waste of time. "

"It would be kind of you to help to make it more profitable. "

"I've no parlour tricks--and don't see the fun of making a performingbear of myself among a lot of strangers. "

"It would be bearish to refuse, and allow your sisters to go alone!I've always longed for a brother to take me about. A nice man is alwaysconsiderate to girls. "

Miles grunted. 

"If I did go, they wouldn't speak to me all the evening! I never knowwhat to say to strangers. I should have to sit in a corner by myself. There'll be a crowd of girls--you, and Betty, and Mrs Vanburgh'ssisters, and who knows how many more?"

Cynthia bowed her head in stately salute. 

"You would not be ungallant enough to insinuate that there could be toomany! It will be your proud privilege to introduce a masculine elementinto the assembly. "

"Humph!"

"It likewise appears probable to me that Mrs Vanburgh may know a fewnice men besides yourself. "

Betty would have said "boys, " Cynthia knew better, and reaped her rewardin Miles' wavering air. 

"Couldn't entertain a party for one minute, let alone ten. "

"We will go into partnership then, and do it together! Ten minutesinstead of five. We'll be confederates, and show them tricks. I know alovely one about telling the time from the position of a poker--no! Howsilly I am, I always give away the secret! You tell a _card_, not thehour. It's quite easy. You have an imaginary clock face on thehearthrug; twelve o'clock is the fire, and you lay the poker on the rugwith the point on the number you want--one, two, three and so on, up toqueen. For king, you simply hold it in your hand, which puzzles themmore than ever. "

"What about the suits?"

"Oh, that's quite easy. When the person outside comes in, he mustnotice first of all how his confederate is looking; to the left meanshearts; to the right, diamonds; upwards, clubs; downward, spades. It'sreally a lovely trick. We'll rehearse it, and I'm sure you must knowmany more. "

"I know some balancing tips, --Georgia Magnet business. You might be theMagnetic Lady, and I'd be the showman. "

"Oh, lovely, lovely! Could you teach me really? Could I lift up atable with two or three men sitting on it, like you see in theadvertisements?" cried Cynthia fervently, and though Miles replied, "Rather not!" he condescended to state one or two less strenuous featswhich she might safely accomplish, and even to put her through apreliminary drilling on the spot. 

The battle was won! For the next week Mrs Vanburgh's party was the onesubject of discussion with the Trevor sisters. Betty was agitated onthe subject of her dress, and being denied a new sash, subsided intogloom for the space of ten minutes, when with a sudden turn of the wheela mental picture was presented of a ship ploughing across the seas, bearing a lonely emigrant to his difficult task, when it became, all ofa sudden, contemptible beyond words to fret oneself about--a ribbon! Asshe herself had said, having once come face to face with tragedy, hereyes were opened to the petty nature of her own trials. She ironed andpressed, and viewing the shabby bows and insufficient ends, saidbravely: "Who cares? It will be all the same in a hundred years!"

Jill wished to know exactly how late the party would be kept up, and ifthere was to be a sit-down supper. "I loathe `light refreshments' likewe have at breaks up. Bitter lemonade and sangwidges--who wantssangwidges? I like to sit down, and have courses, and stay as long asyou like, and crackers, with things in them. " When asked how sheproposed to amuse the company when her turn came round, she shrugged hershoulders, and replied, "Haven't the faintest idea! Shall think ofsomething, I suppose, " in true Jill-like, happy-go-lucky fashion. 

Pam sat glued to the window, and kept an unerring record of everythingwhich entered the Vanburgh house for two days before the fray. Basketsfrom the fruiterer's, trays from the confectioner's; mysterious paperboxes from the Stores; flowers from the florist's; they were allregistered in her accurate little brain, and described at length to hersisters. 

"Couldn't you bring me back somefing nice?" she pleaded wistfully. "Sweets--or a cracker--or a very pretty cake with icing on it?"--andthough Betty proved adamant, Jill succumbed. 

"What are pouches for if you can't carry things in them?" she demanded. "My party body has a huge pouch. I'll bring you samples, Pam, and ifthere are enough, we'll share them together!"

When the great night arrived, Miles was decidedly short as to temper, but he looked so tall and imposing in his dress suit, that Cynthia'sdesignation of "man" seemed nothing but his due. Like all male beings, he seemed to regard the behaviour of his tie and shirt front as the onlythings of importance in the universe, and so completely engrossed was hethereby that he had only an absent, "Oh, all right!" to return toBetty's anxious inquiries as to her own appearance. 

They crossed the road together, three ungainly-looking figures inulsters and snow-shoes, and were admitted to the Vanburgh hall, whichwas instinct with the air of festivity. Flowers everywhere, plantsbanked up in the background, attentive servants to wave you forward;more servants to greet you at the head of the staircase, to help you tounwrap in the bedroom, and make you feel ashamed that your tweed coatwas not an opera mantle, like the charming specimens displayed on thebed!

In the drawing-room quite a number of guests were assembled, and Mileswas relieved to discover that he was by no means the only member of hissex. Betty's first shyness died away as Christabel smiled at her acrossthe room, and patted the empty seat by her side with an invitinggesture. She looked very charming and imposing in her evening dress, but when Betty ventured to admire it she was informed that it was "Arag, my dear--a prehistoric _rag_!" and warned that at any moment theworn-out fabric might be expected to fly asunder, when "As you love me, fling yourself upon me, and _hurl_ me from the room! My entertainmentcomes on last of all. I arranged it so for a special reason, "Christabel explained, with the _grande dame_ air which was one of herchief characteristics. "We are to draw lots for the rest, so that thereshall be no favouritism. "

Presently the lots were drawn, and who should draw number one but Jill, the casual and unprepared! Betty blushed for her, and felt a wildlonging to creep beneath the grand piano, but Jill herself laughed, andwent forward to seat herself on a chair facing the whole assembly withundisturbed composure. 

Everyone stared at her, and she stared back, dropping her head on oneside, and screwing up her saucy nose with a transparent pretence ofembarrassment, which aroused the first laugh of the evening. Everybodywas amused and interested, and ready to be pleased, so that theannouncement, "I'm going to ask riddles!" instead of falling flat, asmight have been expected, was received with quite a burst of applause. And there she sat asking riddles--venerable old chestnuts for the mostpart, and the marvel of it was that it was a most lively performance, for the orthodox answers were mischievously replaced by newer and moreamusing editions, and one person after another would cry, "That remindsme--do you know what is the difference, " etcetera, etcetera, so thatpresently everyone was asking riddles and catches, and really good onesinto the bargain, and it was only after fifteen minutes had elapsed thatJill retired from her post beneath a hurricane of applause. Happy Jill, it was her birthright to charm! It seemed impossible that she shouldever do the wrong thing. 

When it came to Betty's turn she played conscientiously through theSonata Pathetique, with which she had been wrestling for two hours a dayfor the last month. That very morning she had played it over without asingle fault, and really and truly the runs had sounded quiteprofessional; but when your head throbs, and your cheeks burn, and yourheart pounds, and your feet grow cold, and your fingers are hot, andstick together, and refuse to do what they are told, it is wonderful howdifferently things sound! Poor Sonata! It really _was_ ratherpathetic, and it is to be feared that the audience was almost as muchrelieved as was Betty herself, when it came to an end. 

The Magnetic Lady performance was a great success, Miles as showmanbeing an agreeable surprise to his relations, for if he were notdiscursive, he was at least perfectly composed and business-like, andthe poker trick and balancing feats were alike marvellous andperplexing. 

Agatha recounted a story of a haunted castle, and of a ghost which wasnot a ghost at all, but simply a gentleman's bath-gown hung on a nail. The plot was decidedly thin, but the audience found amusement in thequaint and truly Rendell-like phraseology in which it was presented, andin the lavish use of italics. Poor crushed Betty congratulated Agathaon her success, and Agatha rolled her eyes, and cried tragically--

"My dear--I nearly _expired_ with embarrassment! I was _purple_ withagitation. As a candid friend, tell me truly--_has_ it spread to mynose?"

Somebody recited; someone sang a song; somebody introduced a new game;somebody showed card tricks; a budding artist took lightning portraitsof host and hostess and a few of the leading guests, and presentlysupper was announced before Christabel had had time for her turn. 

"Never mind! It will be even better afterwards! I intended it to beafterwards, " she said, smiling mysteriously, as she was led down tosupper by the oldest and most important man in the room. Miles eagerlyappropriated Cynthia, and Betty's partner was one Mr Ned Rendell, theonly brother of the houseful of girls, a somewhat lofty and self-satisfied gentleman, who let her see that he considered her a mere childmore plainly than was altogether polite. Not being possessed of Jill'syouthful love of good things to eat, she was thankful when it was timeto return to the drawing-room, where Christabel was already awaiting herturn, with an eagerness which had been lacking in any other performer. 

"Put your chairs against the wall, please--quite against the wall! Ineed all the room I can get, " she directed, waving her hands to rightand left in masterful fashion. "That's better! Move that table, please. I don't want to knock it down. I shall want someone to helpme. Mr Ross, will you be so kind? We must have a musicalaccompaniment, too. A little slow music--Agatha knows what I mean. Begin at once, please!"

A meaning glance passed between the sisters as Agatha obediently seatedherself on the piano-stool and struck up--a waltz tune! When, presto!Christabel and her partner were whirling round the room, while shelaughed a merry defiance at Nan, and nodded to the assembled guests tofollow her example. 

In a trice the floor was covered with dancers, and for the rest of theevening no other amusement had a chance. Christabel had her way afterall! It was safe to predict that Christabel generally _would_ get herown way. 

It was in the middle of the final Sir Roger, just as she was curtseyingin the centre of the two long lines, that Jill's pouch played her false, and a meringue, a sausage roll, and a couple of crackers fell on theground in a sticky heap. Betty wished that the ground would open andswallow her up, and even Jill had the grace to blush, but Mrs Vanburghcame to the rescue with truly delightful understanding. 

"Oh--oh, what a pity! You were taking them home for the children--Ialways did!" she cried sympathetically. "Bring a shovel, Gervase, please, and take away the crumbs. You should have smuggled them intothe bedroom, Jill--that's how _I_ managed. Now then, partner!" and offshe went, dancing down the line, and setting everybody else going, sothat it was impossible to dwell any longer on the tragic discovery. 

Never since the creation of the world, Jill decided, had there livedanyone more deliciously suitable to play the part of hostess to anassembly of young people!

CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

A STRANGE MEETING. 

Time passes rapidly to the young and light-hearted, and winter fogs hadgiven place to blue skies and flowering trees before--as Jill expressedit--one could say "Jack Robinson. "

Miles was finishing his course of study, and had so distinguishedhimself above his fellows that there was little doubt that a goodopening would be offered to him ere long. Dr Trevor was very proud ofhis clever son, but the mother's face took on a wistful expression asshe looked round the table at her assembled family, and realised thatthe time was close at hand for the stirring up of the nest. She wasunusually indulgent during those spring months, as if she could not findit in her heart to deny any possible pleasure. 

"We shall not long be together. Miles will be going away, and afterthen--who knows?" she told herself sadly. "Once children begin to growup and go out into the world, one can never be sure of meeting again asa complete family circle. Let them be happy while they may!"

So those spring months saw an unusual succession of gaieties in thedoctor's shabby house, in the shape of merry, informal gatherings, whichwent far to cement newly-made friendships. Agatha and ChristabelRendell returned home, only to be succeeded by the remaining threesisters of the family, who proved quite as interesting in their variousways. Dear good Maud was as sweet and placid as her own fat baby, whileElsie was an intense young person, quite different from anyone else whomBetty and Cynthia had ever encountered. Her hair was parted in themiddle and brushed smoothly over her ears; she wore quaintlyunfashionable garments, and--thrilling item of interest!--was engaged tobe married to a sub-editor of a magazine, who was reported to be evenmore intense than herself. Elsie disdained the ordinary sign ofbetrothal; a ring, she explained to the astonished girls, was a badge ofservitude to which no self-respecting woman should submit, and she worein its place a gold locket, bearing strange cabalistic signs, themeaning of which the beholders vainly yearned to discover. 

With regard to the future, Elsie and her editor announced theirintention of living "the higher life"--a high-sounding phrase which wasnot a little impressive, until one heard the details thereof, whichscarcely appealed to the ordinary imagination. They were going tosubsist on a diet of bread and nuts, a regime which did away at one fellswoop with the need of such superfluities as cook and kitchen; theywould have no curtains nor draperies, as woollens harbour microbes; nowall-papers, as papers exude poisons; no ornaments, since it was a sinto waste the precious hours in dusting what was of no use. What they_were_ going to have, soon became the question in the minds of theanxious hearers, while "Poor old Elsie!" cried Nan Vanburgh, laughing. "I give her a month before I am taken for a day's hard shopping atMaple's! She rides her hobbies so violently that they collapse of sheerexhaustion before she has time to put them into practice!"

In the matter of conversation, Elsie swayed between the high-flown andthe natural, sometimes chatting away in ordinary commonplace fashion, atother times confounding her hearers by weird and mysterious utterances. 

"Have you ever felt the intense meaning in _colour_?" she demanded oneday, at the end of a silence during which she had been gazing into theheart of the fire. Betty stared aghast, but Cynthia, with finer humour, smiled demurely, and replied--

"Of blues--yes! I feel it horribly at times, " whereupon, being aRendell, Elsie descended promptly from her high horse, and chuckled withenjoyment. 

After Elsie appeared Lilias--a vision of beauty and elegance, but fartoo grown-up and superior to care for the society of chits in theschoolroom. Her visit was a round of gaiety, for she did not care forquiet home evenings, but she never seemed really satisfied nor pleased, and there was always a "but" or an "if" at the end of her description ofthe last day's doings. 

Nan looked at her with troubled eyes, and her "Poor Lilias!" had a verydifferent ring from the "Poor old Elsie!" which was after all only apretence at pity. 

Cynthia's prophecy had been fulfilled, for at the end of January Bettyhad received from America a copy of the _New York Herald_, with thesignificant letter "R" printed on a corner of the wrapper. Her friendof the fog had evidently possessed himself of her full name and addressbefore leaving town, and now wished her to know that he had safelyreached the scene of his future labours. How carefully that wrapper waspreserved! How diligently it was searched for further messages, longafter it had been definitely concluded that no such message could exist!Betty considered the handwriting the most manly and distinctive thatshe had ever beheld; and Cynthia, without going so far, was stillprepared to read in it all the desired meanings. 

"The letters are joined together; that means sequence of thought andmental ability. The line rises at the end; that shows proper ambition. There are power and success written in every stroke!"

"Dear Cynthia!" sighed Betty ardently. "How clever you are! You arealways right. "

As for Jack, he was working, absolutely working hard, instead of playingwith his tasks. The redoubtable Johnson was constrained to take asecond place in the class as a permanency nowadays, and hopes of thescholarship grew apace in the parental heart. Jack did not appreciatehome references to his newly-developed industry, and, so strange andunaccountable a thing is schoolboy nature, that when Betty injudiciouslyremarked on his "goodness, " he "slacked it" of intent for a whole week, just to have the satisfaction of telling her of his descent in theclass. Not for all the riches in the world would he have explained thereal reason for the change, but those three words, "the Captain'sorders!" rang in his ears like a battle-cry, and the voice within gavehim no peace if he did less than his best. Poor General Digby! Itseemed hard that he should be denied the exquisite satisfaction ofknowing what good he had been the means of working; but, though Jack'slips were sealed on this point, he showed an appreciation of thatgentleman's company and an affectionate forethought for his comfortwhich were very comforting to a lonely bachelor. It became a habit todrop in at the flat for a cup of tea and half an hour's chat on the wayhome from school, and to accompany the General for a walk on Sundayafternoons. Dr and Mrs Trevor were pleased that the boy should bebrought so much in contact with a man for whom their admiration andrespect increased more and more with better acquaintance, for theGeneral's faults were all on the surface, and behind the loud voice andirascible mien were hidden a child-like faith and purity of heart. 

And then one day an extraordinary thing happened! Talk of story-books, as Betty said, --talk of three volume novels, --talk of a wholecirculating library at once, and never, no never, could you think ofanything more exciting or romantic!

Mrs Trevor had invited Miss Beveridge to spend Sunday at Number 1, inresponse to a plaintive appeal from her eldest daughter. 

"She weighs on my mind like a lump of lead, for I know Mrs Vanburghthinks I'm mean never to have asked her here, but I really can't contendwith her alone, she is so frightfully snubbing and superior. If youwould let her come some Sunday when everyone is at home, and you are notbusy all the time, we could take turns at entertaining her. I'd loveyou for ever and ever if you only would!"

"Well--it's a big bribe!" said Mrs Trevor, laughing. "Yes, by allmeans ask her to come. I shall be very glad to welcome her any Sunday, if she seems to enjoy coming. "

"Oh, she won't do that. She hasn't any enjoying power left. It's alltaught out of her. I don't believe she could feel anything if shetried, " quoth Miss Betty in her wisdom, and was fated to see the follyof her words. 

Mrs Trevor was pouring out tea in the drawing-room at a little tableset almost beneath the shadow of Pam's branching palm. Miss Beveridgewas sitting bolt upright in an easy-chair, looking as if she wereaccustomed to be uncomfortable, and uncomfortable she was determined tobe, in spite of all conspiracies to the contrary. She wore a severeblack dress, and her iron-grey hair was brushed back from her face withalmost painful neatness. Betty looked from one to the other as shehanded round cakes and scones, and wondered if her mother was reallyyears and years younger than Miss Beveridge, or if she only looked itbecause she was pretty and dainty, and happy at heart. Miss Beveridgehad beautiful features, but the listless gloom of her expression spoiledwhat beauty she might still have possessed. Nan's persistent effortshad to some extent thawed the icy barrier of reserve, but in a strangeatmosphere it seemed to have frozen even harder than before, so thatMrs Trevor was devoutly thankful for the arrival of the tea-tray, andwondered no more at Betty's unwillingness to tackle this silent visitor. 

And then the door opened, and Jack's cheery voice was heard. 

"Hallo, mother, here's a friend come to tea!" he announced, and the nextmoment the whole atmosphere of the room was changed, as the General'sbig form hobbled forward, the big red face smiled its big kind smile, and the big voice boomed out a thunderous greeting. 

"Afternoon, madam! Afternoon, Lady Betty! This boy tempted me, and Ifell. What's this I hear about hot muffins and apricot jam? When I wasa nipper there was no boy in the length of Ireland that could beatTerence Digby at a muffin struggle. Where's my friend Jill? PlainJill! Eh, what? No, my dear--I said to her--that, at least, you nevercan be. That's taken out of your power! Where's Miss Pussy Pam? Ican't see you all in this half light. Very picturesque for young eyes, madam, but when you get old like me you'll be thankful for electricity. Eh! Who's this?"

He had caught a glimpse of the figure in the easy-chair, and, wheelingsuddenly round, stared full at it. Stared, and grew silent. And MissBeveridge stared back, and her eyes looked big, big, and oh! So darkand deep. And her lips worked as if she were going to speak, and a redspot came out on each cheek, and she was not Miss Beveridge any longer, but someone whom the onlookers had never seen before. 

The General's figure seemed to stiffen, his bent shoulders straightenedand broadened out. He stretched out his right hand. 

"_Alice_!" he said, and his voice was soft and breathless. One couldhardly imagine it could be General Digby's voice. "Alice! Is thatyou?"

She put her hand in his, and nodded dumbly. Mrs Trevor rattled herteacups, questioned Jack volubly as to his walk--frowning at Betty tosecond her efforts, and so leave the two old friends undisturbed; but itwas beyond girl nature to resist sly peeps, and if one's ears were madesharp by nature, how could one help hearing odd scraps of conversation?

"And you have been living in London for years? You are not--" a glanceat the ringless hand--"not married then? I always thought you wouldmarry. . .. You will give me your address. I must not lose sight of youagain. --A Governesses' Home. Oh, Alice!" . .. 

General Digby had no appetite for muffins and apricot jam thatafternoon. His fierce old face worked strangely as he sat with theuntasted tea in his hands, his glassy eyes were for once moist andtender. As for Miss Beveridge, the flush died away from her cheeks, leaving her looking even more worn and grey than before, and Betty, looking at her, was conscious of a sudden tender outgoing of the heart, a longing to help and comfort, such as had inspired Nan Vanburgh monthsbefore, but after which she herself had striven in vain. This wasevidently a meeting of old lovers parted by some untoward fate. Ah, poor soul, and it had come too late! Youth and health, and joy andbeauty, had all paid toll to the long years as they passed. How shockedand pained the General must be, to meet his love in such a sadlydifferent guise! It was not possible he could care for her any more. Better not to have met, and to have preserved the old illusion. 

"I'll be nice to her! I thought she had been born old, but she has beenyoung after all. I will be nice to her. I'll try to make up!" saidBetty pitifully to herself. 

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

A TETE-A-TETE. 

Half an hour later, when Betty escorted the General to the door, hepaused in the hall to lay his hand on her arm, and inquire in a voiceunusually tremulous--

"You have often spoken to me about your `Govies, ' as you call them. Was--was _She_ one of the number?"

Betty murmured an assent, guiltily conscious of the criticisms which hadaccompanied the references. Was he about to take her to task for allthe scathing remarks she had made on the subject of his old love? Butno--the grip tightened on her arm, and he said gently--

"God bless you, my dear, for all your kindness! May it be meted out toyou a hundred times over in your hour of need. A Governesses' Home--Alice Beveridge! And Terence Digby living in the lap of luxury! Well, well! Twenty years, my dear, since we last met--I was over forty, butshe was a mere girl. A beautiful girl, --I never saw her equal, and theyears have not touched her. I should have known her anywhere. She ismarvellously unchanged!"

Betty gazed at him dumbly, and there came to her at that moment, for thefirst time in her life, a realisation of the deep, abiding love whichsees beneath the surface, and knows neither change nor time. She had noinclination to laugh at the old man's blindness; rather she felt towardshim reverence and admiration. Happy Miss Beveridge! To one loyal heartat least she would remain always young, always beautiful. Happy TerenceDigby, who had kept his ideal untouched!

When Betty retraced her steps to the drawing-room a few minutes later, another surprise was in waiting, for behold, Miss Beveridge sobbing, with her hands over her face, while Mrs Trevor patted her tenderly onthe shoulder. She looked across the room and shook her head at heryoung daughter. 

"Go away, Betty dear, please! Leave us alone, " she said gently, andBetty tottered across the hall and collapsed in a heap on the nearestchair, positively faint with excitement. The first real romance withwhich she had come in contact, --and behold! The leading characters wereGeneral Digby and Miss Beveridge! Wonders would never cease!

The next afternoon the General appeared once more, and had a long _tete-a-tete_ with Mrs Trevor. 

"I am sorry to be such a trouble to you, madam, but you have no one toblame but yourself, for you have been so patient and forbearing with meduring the last six months, that I feel as if there were no limits toyour kindness. I went to that Governesses' Home to-day--for that matterI passed it half a dozen times, but I could not screw up my courage todo any more. The look of the place daunted me, to begin with. To thinkof Alice Beveridge shut up there! Besides, I'm a soldier; my life hasbeen spent among men; I haven't the pluck to face a houseful of women. Be a good angel, and let us meet here once more! I was too muchovercome yesterday to know what I was saying, but something must bedone, and done quickly. I can't go on living as I am, and think of herworking for her living. Of course, you know what it all means. You area woman, and women are quick enough at guessing these things. I nevercared for another woman. I was a middle-aged man when we met, and itwent very hard with me when she said Number 1 was not a boy, to forgetat the sight of the next pretty face. I have tried to make the best ofthings, but it's been lonely work. I went abroad immediately after sherefused me, and heard no more about her. She was visiting a commonfriend when we met. I knew nothing of her family, so we simply passedout of each other's lives. I always thought of her as happily marriedyears ago; it never dawned upon me that there could have been anymisunderstanding, but yesterday when we met there was something in herface, her manner-- She seemed almost as much agitated as I was myself. I may be a conceited old idiot, but it seemed to me as if she _had_cared after all, --as if there had been some mistake! Women talk to eachother more openly than we do. If she told you anything about it, Ithink you ought to let me know. I have waited a long time!"

There was a pathos in the sound of those last few words which wentstraight to Mrs Trevor's heart, and she answered as frankly as he hadspoken. 

"Yes, indeed, it has been a hard time for you both. Miss Beveridgequite broke down after you left last night, and I gathered from what shesaid that at the time of your proposal she was taken by surprise, andfelt nervous and uncertain of herself, as girls often do. It was onlyafter you had sailed, and she was at home again, that she realised whata blank your absence made, and knew that she had loved you all the time. She hoped you might write, or see her on your return. "

"But she had not the courage to write herself, and acknowledge hermistake? Well, well! Women have their own code of honour, I suppose, but it would have been a gracious act. I remembered her always, but itdid not seem to me the straight thing to force myself on a girl half myage, who had already refused me once, and so we have gone onmisunderstanding all these years. Then I suppose trouble began? Herpeople were not rich, but she had a comfortable home, so far as I knew. "

"The parents died, and she was obliged to earn her own living. She hasbeen teaching music in London for the last fifteen years. "

The General groaned. 

"I know! I know! Dragging about in all weathers, to earn a fewshillings for hearing wretched brats strumming five-finger exercises. Beg pardon, ma'am--I should not have said that to you! You havechildren of your own. "

"But I do not in the least envy their music-mistress!" cried MrsTrevor, smiling. "It is a hard, hard life, especially when it is a caseof going back to an Institution instead of a home. It is young MrsVanburgh, Betty's friend, to whom you are really indebted for thismeeting. It was her idea to welcome lonely gentlewomen to her home, andMiss Beveridge happened to be her first visitor. "

"God bless her!" said the General reverently. He sat in silence forsome minutes, gazing dreamily before him, a puzzled look on the redface. At last--"Now there's the question of the future to consider!" hesaid anxiously. "I'm getting old--sixty-four next birthday, preciousnear the allotted span of life, but she is twenty years younger--she mayhave a long life before her still. It would break my heart to let hergo on working, but she'd be too proud to take money from me, unless--unless-- Mrs Trevor, you are a sensible woman! I can trust you to giveme a candid answer. Would you consider me a madman if I asked the girla second time to marry me, old as I am, gouty as I am? Is it too late, or can you imagine it possible that she might still care to take me inhand?"

He looked across the room as he spoke with a pathetic eagerness in hisglance, and Mrs Trevor's answering smile was full of tenderness. 

"Indeed I can! I should not think you a madman at all, General, for Iam old enough to know that the heart does not age with the body, andthat the happiness which comes late in life is sometimes the sweetest ofall. You are a hale man still, in spite of your gout, and with a wifeto care for you, you might renew your youth. I hope and believe thatall will go well this time, but let me advise you not to be in too greata hurry. Twenty years is a long time, and you and Miss Beveridge haveled such very different lives that you may find that there is littlesympathy left between you. It is only a `may, ' but I do think you woulddo well to see more of each other before speaking of anything so seriousas marriage. You shall have plenty of opportunity of seeing each other, I promise you that! I will invite Miss Beveridge to spend as much ofher time with us as is possible, and you shall be left alone to renewyour acquaintance, and learn to know each other afresh. That will bethe wisest plan, will it not?"

"Um--um!" grunted the General vaguely. He frowned and lookedcrestfallen, for he retained enough of his youthful impetuosity to makeanything like delay distinctly a trial. "Perhaps you are right, thoughI cannot believe that any number of years could change my feelings. Alice is--Alice! The one woman in the world I ever loved. That's thebeginning and the end of the matter, but perhaps for her sake I shouldnot be hasty. Mustn't frighten her again, poor girl! That's arranged, then, ma'am--you let us meet in your house, and if we live, we'll try topay you back for your goodness, and I'll wait--two or three weeks. Youwouldn't wish me to wait longer than two or three weeks?" He put up hishand and raked his grey locks into a fierce, upstanding crest, while acurious embarrassment flashed across his face. "A married man? TerenceDigby married! There's only one thing I'm afraid of--Johnson! Whatwill Johnson say to a woman in possession?"

Mrs Trevor laughed, but could give no reply, and presently the Generaltook himself off, and left her to write an invitation for the next week-end to his old love, which was accepted in a grateful little note byreturn of post. 

For three nights running did the General dine at Dr Trevor's table, while Miss Beveridge sat beside him, with pathetic little bows of lacepinned in the front of her shabby black silk, which somehow lookedshabbier than ever for the attempt at decoration. At the beginning ofthe meal she was just Miss Beveridge, stiff, silent, colourless; but astime passed by and she talked to the General, and the General talked toher, attending to her little wants as if they were of all things in theworld the most important, fussing about a draught that might possiblydistress her, and violently kicking his opposite neighbour in hisendeavours to provide her with a footstool, gradually, gradually theMiss Beveridge of the music-lessons and the Governesses' Homedisappeared from sight, and there appeared in her place an absolutelydifferent woman, with a sweet smiling face, out of which the linesseemed to have been miraculously smoothed away, while a delicate colourin her cheeks gave to the once grey face something of the fragile beautyof an old pastel. 

For fifteen years she had fought a hand-to-hand battle with want; alonely battle, with no one to care or to comfort, and now it was meat, and drink, and health, and sunshine, to find herself of a sudden themost precious object on earth to one faithful heart! Although theGeneral had given a promise not to be too precipitate in his wooing, itwas easy to prophesy how things would end; but before the "two or threeweeks" had come to an end, another event happened of such supremeimportance to the Trevor household as to put in the background everyother subject, interesting and romantic though it might be. 

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

TRYING DAYS. 

One May afternoon Miles came home with the news that, through theinfluence of an engineering friend, he had been offered a post inconnection with a new railway which the ever-increasing mining industryin Mexico had rendered necessary. The salary proposed was a handsomeone for so young a man. He owed the offer entirely to Mr Owen's goodoffices, and would be required to sail as soon as his outfit could begot together. 

Dr Trevor rejoiced in his son's success, and warmly congratulated himon having had so short a time to wait for an opening. He took a man'sview of life, and felt that it was time that Miles faced the world onhis own account; but the youth faded out of the mother's face as she satin her corner and listened to the conversation. 

"Luck!" They called it luck that Miles, her darling, should be sent tothe other side of the world, to a wild, dare-devil country, the veryname of which conjured up a dozen thrilling tales of adventure. "A fiveyears' appointment!" The words rang like a knell in her ears!

Of course, she had known all along that a separation must come, but shehad hoped against hope that an opening might be found somewhere withinthe borders of the United Kingdom, when she would still be able to feelwithin reach in case of need. Now it was indeed good-bye, since it mustat best be a matter of years before she could hope for another meeting. Oh, this stirring up of the nest, how it tears the mother's heart!

Mrs Trevor looked across the room to where Miles stood, almost as talland broad as the doctor himself, and her thoughts flew back to the timewhen he was a little curly-headed boy who vowed he would never leave hismother. "I won't never get married, " he had announced one day. "Youshall be my wife. You are daddy's wife, and I don't see why youshouldn't be wife to both your darlin's!" Another day--"I'll stay withyou all my life, and when you're a nold, nold woman I'll wheel you aboutin a Barf chair. " Later on had come the time when the first dawning offuture responsibility began to weigh on the childish mind--"I can't sinkhow I can ever make pennies like daddy does! I can't write properletters like grown-ups do, only the printed ones!" he had sighed, andshe had bidden him be a good boy and do his best for the day, leavingthe future in God's hand. "God will give you your work!" she had toldhim; and how she and his father had rejoiced together when hisabsorption in a box of tools, and his ingenuity therewith, had pointedout a congenial career. She had prayed and trusted for guidance inbringing up this dear son, and that being so, she must now believe thatthe offered post was the right thing, and that the distant land was justthe very spot of all others where God wished him to be. 

When Miles turned to his mother, she had a smile in readiness for him, and if it were rather tremulous, it was none the less sweet. She wouldnot allow herself to break down, but threw herself heart and soul into astudy of the Stores' list, which could not be delayed another day, seeing that it was suggested that Miles should sail in a week's time. Aweek! Only one week! Was it really possible that the following day wasthe last Sunday which would see a united family circle round the table?

Every female member of the household shed tears on their pillows thatevening, and Betty was convinced that she had lain awake all night long, because she had actually heard the clock strike one. Mrs Trevor'svigil was real, not imaginary, and she was thankful when it was time toget up, and get ready for that quiet early service at church which wouldbe her best preparation for the week. Her hard-worked husband wassleeping soundly, and she would not waken him, but a feeling of unusualsadness and loneliness oppressed her as she made her way through thesilent house. She had depended so much on her big strong boy, had growninto the habit of consulting him on many matters, in which, by helpingher, he could save his father trouble. That was all over now. She mustlearn to do without Miles' aid! And then suddenly from behind thedining-room door a big figure stepped forward to meet her, and Miles'voice said, in half-shamefaced tones--

"I thought--I'd come too! I thought we'd go together!"

"Oh, Miles!" cried his mother, and could say no more, but her heartleapt with thankfulness for all that that action meant--for this signthat her boy was anxious to dedicate himself afresh to Christ's serviceat the beginning of his new life. She passed her hand through his arm, and they went out of the house together, unconscious of the presence ofa third figure which had looked down at them from an upper landing. 

Betty had awakened to fresh tears, and, hearing her mother stirring, hadhurried into her clothes, so as to accompany her to church; but in thevery act of slipping downstairs Miles' voice had arrested her, and shehad drawn back into the shadow. The Betty of a year ago would havecontinued her course unabashed; the Betty of to-day divined with a newhumility that her presence would mar the sacredness of that lastCommunion of mother and son, and turned back quietly to her own room. 

The days flew. The first mornings were spent at the Stores, choosing, ordering, and fitting; the afternoons in marking and packing thedifferent possessions as they arrived. Then there were farewell visitsto be paid, and to receive, and a score of letters and presents toacknowledge. Relations turned up trumps, and sent contributions towardsthe outfit in money and in kind; the General presented a handsomedouble-barrelled fowling-piece, which thrilled Miles with delight andhis mother with horror. Miss Beveridge gave a "housewife" stocked withall sorts of mending materials--fancy Miles darning his own socks!--andCynthia Alliot sent across a case containing one of the most perfectquarter-plate cameras that ever was seen. 

 "When this you see, Send snaps to me!"

was inscribed on the inner wrapping, which Miles quietly folded and putaway in his pocket. He would not need the camera or any external aid tohelp him to remember his mentor of the golden hair and sweet grey eyes. 

Cynthia came over very often those last few days, and diffused a littlefun into the gathering gloom by constituting herself Miles' sewing-mistress, and sitting over him in sternest fashion while he fumbledclumsily at his task. Rumour had it that she even rapped his knuckleswith the scissors when he took up half a dozen threads at once in hissecond darn; and even Mrs Trevor was obliged to laugh at her imitationof Miles' grimaces when trying to thread a needle. In the end Pam wasmade happy by being commissioned to thread dozens of needles with longblack and white threads, and then stick them in a special needle-book, with their tails twisted neatly round and round. 

As for Cynthia, she revelled in her position as instructress. 

"I've suffered so much myself, that it is simply lovely to turn thetables on someone else, " she announced. "I am going to see thisbusiness through in a proper and well-regulated fashion. Now that thetechnical course is finished, you are going to be put through a _vivavoce_ examination. Sit down in front of the work-basket, and answerwithout any shuffling or trying to escape. Now then! Distinguishbetween a darning-needle and a bodkin. " She nipped up Mrs Trevor'sspectacles from a side-table, as she spoke, perched them on the end ofher nose, and stared over them with an assumption of great severity. Miles grinned complacently. 

"Easy enough. One pricks and the other doesn't. "

"A very superficial reply! To what separate and distinctive dutieswould you apply the two?"

"Wouldn't apply them at all if I had my way, " began the pupil daringly, but a flash of his mistress's eye recalled him promptly to order, and headded hastily, "One you use to darn things up with, and the other todrag strings through tunnel sort of businesses, and bring them out atthe other side. "

"No engineering terms, please! Your matter is correct, but the mannerleaves much to be desired. Question number two is--Which thread wouldyou use to affix (a) a shirt, (b) a boot, (c) a waistcoat button?"

"The first that came handy, " replied Miles recklessly, whereupon Pamsquealed with dismay, and was for labelling all her needles forthwith, but Cynthia rapped sternly on the table, and would have each bobbinbrought out in turn, and so carefully examined that its qualities couldnot easily be forgotten. Then, and only then, would she consent to passon to the third question, which concerned itself with the vexed questionof darning. 

"Three, State clearly, and in sequence, the steps necessary forrepairing a hole in the sole of your sock. "

Miles shrugged his shoulders with a despairing gesture. 

"Oh, if you mean how a woman does it, --drag the old thing tightly overyour left arm, so that you have only one hand to work with, fill yourneedle with a silly stuff that breaks if you look at it, and begin see-sawing away half a mile from the scene of the accident. Stick at ituntil you have pulled off most of the skin on your fingers, and thenturn it round and start the whole thing over again, the other way round. Then walk about and get a blister on your heel!"

The audience sputtered with laughter at this eloquent description, butCynthia gazed down her nose with an expression of contemptuous disgust. 

"And how many blisters would you have if you did not mend it, pray? MayI suggest that you make the experiment and see? No marks at all forthat answer! Question number four is, Work a buttonhole on theaccompanying strip of linen. "

But here Miles struck. No power on earth, he declared, would induce himto attempt to "festoon" a hole in the accepted fashion. 

"When I want one I'll make it with the nearest implement that comeshandy. There are always my teeth as a last resource. It's sillynonsense cutting out a hole and immediately proceeding to sew it up!Time enough for that when it begins to split--"

"Plucked! Hopelessly plucked!" cried Cynthia, rolling her eyes indismay. Then the spectacles dropped off her nose, and she joined in thegeneral laughter, and forgot her role of mentor for the rest of theevening. 

But it was not only in the matter of amusement that Cynthia made herselfinvaluable during those last trying days; she seemed ever on the watchfor opportunities of service. If anything was overlooked or late indelivery, she was ready to drive to the shop, and bring it home. Sheinvited Pam to lunch and tea, thereby setting her elders free andkeeping the child happy and occupied, and she steadily refused toaccompany Miles and Betty on any of their expeditions, thereby earningher friend's undying gratitude, though perhaps Miles himself was lessappreciative of her self-denial. Her turn for a quiet word came only onthe last day of all, when Miles accompanied her for the few yards whichintervened between the two houses, and stood on the doorstep to wish herfarewell. 

His face was white, and his words came out with even more than the usualdifficulty. 

"It's been--a jolly good thing for me--knowing you for these lastmonths. You've been--a help! If I ever turn out anything of a man--itwill be a good deal--your doing!"

Cynthia stared at him with her beautiful grave eyes. 

"Mine?" she cried in amazement. "Oh, why? What have I done?"

"You've been yourself!" said Miles gruffly. "Good-bye!"

He held out his big hand, and Cynthia's little fingers closed tightlyround it. 

"Good-bye, Miles! I won't forget, " she said simply. And with thosewords ringing in his ears Miles Trevor sailed away to begin his newlife. 

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

THE GENERAL'S WOOING. 

Tears and lamentations made up the story of the next few days. 

"When's the washing coming home? I've cried out all my handkerchiefs, and I get scolded if I sniff!" grumbled red-eyed Jill on the evening ofthe third day after Miles' departure; and it appeared that most membersof the family found themselves in the same predicament, for the firstbreak in the family circle is a painful experience, especially when itsmembers are as devoted as were the Trevors. 

It was a relief to all to watch the progress of the General's wooing, and to have his genial presence among them. Now that the evenings werebeginning to be really summer-like, he and Miss Beveridge would adjournto the Square Gardens after dinner, and sit on a bench not far removedfrom that historic spot where he had fallen a victim to the twins' loveof adventure. As a rule, so soon as dusk approached, Miss Beveridgewould take an omnibus and return to her "Home, " while the General wouldstep stiffly into a cab and return to his flat, where the faithfulJohnson was no doubt wondering what had happened to induce such younghabits in his once stay-at-home master. One night, however, instead ofseparating as usual, they returned to Number 1, and the first glance attheir faces showed that the _denouement_ had been reached. The Generalwas red, Miss Beveridge was white; he was voluble with excitement, shewas too excited to speak. Mrs Trevor read the signs of the times, andthoughtfully led the way to the drawing-room, so that the formalannouncement of the engagement could be made away from the somewhatembarrassing scrutiny of the young people. 

"Alice has promised to let me take care of her! Congratulate me, mydear madam. I am the happiest man in the world!" cried the excitedIrishman. "We have wasted enough time, but we are not going to wasteany more. `Haste to the wedding!'--that's our motto. What? Alicetalks about clothes. Fiddlesticks, I tell her! We can buy the finestdress in London in half an hour's time, or my name's not Terence Digby. Then she talks about pupils. Pack of rubbish, I tell her! There arefifty women in London wanting to give lessons, for every pupil who wantsto learn. Let someone else hear the `nid, nid, nodding' for a change!"(This last was a dark reference to the Scotch air with which poor Pamhad been wrestling for weeks past. ) "`A June wedding!' Always said I'dbe married in June if I had the chance, and it's a poor thing if I can'thave my way after waiting twenty years. Don't like July--nasty, treacherous month! Best way to spend it is a honeymoon in the country. What? You'll tell the boys and girls, eh? Tell them after we've gone. Too bashful to stand the racket to-night! Besides, there's Johnson toface. Bit of a pill to face Johnson. What? Don't know what he'll sayto a mistress, but it will be all right when he sees Alice. Alice willget over him fast enough!"

It was charming to see the look of proud admiration which he cast at his_fiancee_; charming to see her changed and softened mien; charming tosee the smile of complete and happy confidence which was exchangedbetween the two. For the first time for many days the weight ofdepression lifted from Mrs Trevor's heart, and she forgot Miles'departure in rejoicing in their joy. Her face had its old bright lookas she re-entered the study to tell the news to her children, who, truthto tell, were not too sympathetic in their reception. 

The three elders were, of course, more or less prepared for theannouncement, but Pam gasped in shocked surprise. 

"_Married_!" she cried shrilly. "But they are so old! What's the goodof being married, and having all the bother for nothing? They'll bedead so soon!"

"It's an awful fag. It won't be half so much sport going to tea, "commented Jill with outspoken selfishness, while Jack shrugged hisshoulders and grimaced disapproval. 

"Got everything he wants--rattling good food, all his relics and thingsaround him, and Johnson to save all bother. Can't think why he couldn'tbe satisfied!"

Only Betty was silent, her heart warming with a tender sympathy over thestory of an old and loyal love. Miss Beveridge was quite, quite old, over forty, and her hair was grey, yet the General called her a girl, and thought her beautiful still. Somehow the thought had a directpersonal comfort. Other people might feel the same; and thirty--thirtywas comparatively young!

The next day the General was taken in state to call upon Nan Vanburgh, who had heard from Betty which way the wind was blowing, but had, ofcourse, been obliged to preserve an unconscious demeanour until theengagement was a _fait accompli_. 

"Under Providence, madam, I am indebted to you for this happiness!"cried the General, bowing over her hand in his courtly old-worldfashion; and Nan looked at him with what her friends called "the shinylook" in her eyes, and said, in the honest, big-girl fashion which shenever seemed to outgrow--

"And I am so happy that you are happy that I could just jump for joy!It's a perfectly beautiful ending to my Saturday afternoons. I'm only alittle bit jealous that Mrs Trevor has had you to herself all thistime. Now it's my turn! What about the wedding? Where is it to takeplace? Are you perhaps going to some relation's house?"

"No. Neither of us owns anyone very near and dear, so we prefer to stayquietly in town. "

"Then it must certainly be from here! You couldn't dream of beingmarried from the Home, Miss Beveridge! Come to me a few days before, and I'll be your tire-woman, and help to get everything ready, and youshall have a nice breakfast and invite all your friends. "

But here the General interfered. 

"No, no! No breakfast!" he cried. "None the less grateful to you, madam, but fuss and speechifying don't come naturally to a man of myage. I want to get my wife to myself as soon as possible, so we'll makea bolt of it from the church door. Capital plan, though, to stay withyou for a bit before. What? You'd like that, Alice, wouldn't you?Need someone to fix your fal-lals. What? Another debt of gratitude, madam, which we will hope to repay, God willing, when we settle down inour new home. "

Miss Beveridge gratefully accepted Nan's invitation, but when she went astep further and offered to assist in the choice of the wedding-dress, it appeared that the bridegroom had decided views of his own on thesubject, and had already made his selection. 

"She must wear blue! Says it ought to be grey at her age! Her age, indeed, as if she were an elderly woman! She was wearing blue when Isaw her first, and she's going to be married in blue, or I'll know thereason why! Blue dress, and a hat with blue feathers; and those Trevorlassies shall be bridesmaids. Must have bridesmaids, however quiet itis. What? Besides, I owe them something, and it will be an excuse togive them their kit--white muslin and blue ribbons. That's how younggirls used to dress when I was a lad, and I've never seen anything totouch it. There will be no trouble about the dresses, madam. I'vedecided all that. You just tell me the name of a dressmaker--a tip-topdressmaker, mind you--and we'll send in the order at once. "

The bride-elect turned to her friend with a somewhat horrifiedexpression, but Nan flashed a reassuring smile, and adroitly turned thesubject in another direction. 

"Don't worry!" she whispered, the first time that there was anopportunity for a quiet word. "The General shall have his way, andeverything shall be charming into the bargain. I know of a dressmakerwho could make sackcloth elegant. She will manufacture even the hatwith blue feathers, so that you will never have had anything so becomingin your life. Fortunately the General does not confine you to one shadeof blue. And the muslins and blue ribbons will be wonderful filmycreations, as different from the Early Victorian stiffnesses as anythingyou can possibly imagine. How Betty will enjoy herself!"

Betty did! In all the course of her eighteen years, it was the firstoccasion on which she had been provided with an outfit with no regard tomoney, but simply to what would be prettiest and most becoming. Thedress, the hat, the shoes, the gloves, the basket of pale-hued roses, were all perfect of their kind, and, to crown all, on the morning of thewedding there arrived two small morocco boxes, which, being opened, displayed two miniature gold watches, encircled with turquoise, andprovided with blue enamel bows, by which they could be attached to thedress. Jill's whoops of delight might have been heard half-way acrossthe Square. There seemed nothing left to wish for in life, now that thelong-dreamed-of "real gold" watch was actually in her grasp. 

And so Terence Digby took Alice Beveridge to wife, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death did thempart; and more than one spectator prayed fervently that the hour ofseparation should be long delayed, so that the reunited lovers mightenjoy a peaceful golden summer. 

They drove away from the church door, and when the bride thrust herblue-feathered toque out of the window to smile a radiant farewell, NanVanburgh nodded her pretty head at Betty, and cried triumphantly--

"Now behold for yourself what miracles love and home and appreciationcan work! That was Miss Beveridge once on a time, and you called her afrump and a fright, but the _real_ woman was that charming Mrs Digby, and the magician's wand has brought her to life?"

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. 

A BUNDLE OF LETTERS. 

_Miles Trevor to his Mother_. 

Dearest Mater, --A merry Christmas to you all! I can hardly believe itis nearly four years since I said good-bye and came out here, thoughthere are times, when I am down on my luck, when it seems more like ahundred. One doesn't have much time for moping during the day, but theevenings are the trying times, when one wonders what on earth made himsuch an idiot as to leave the dear old country. In saner moments I'mprecious glad I did, for I shouldn't have had half the chance of gettingon at home. The manager went off for a holiday last week and left me incharge, and I'm thankful to say all has gone well. It was my chance ofshowing what I could do, and I was determined to make the most of it. All the same, I am sorry at times that I did not go in for mining, as Ionce thought of doing, you remember. My chum Gerard is going ahead at agreat rate. He came out here without a penny, and has simply worked hisway through the different processes in the big Aladdin Mine with whichwe are connected. He took the most profitable stages first, and when hehad saved up a little money went in for the ones which paid least, untilhe had a real practical working knowledge of everything from start tofinish. Of course he had had no training at home, or this would nothave been necessary, but as he is a beggar to work, and a genius atmaking other people work too, he has risen to the post of sub-manager, and as soon as he has saved enough money is going prospecting on his ownaccount. He has promised me a share in his gold-mine when it isdiscovered, and you may trust Gerard to find one if it is in existence, so you may see us home together some fine day to float our company. 

The sooner it comes the better, or everything and everyone will bechanged out of knowledge! It is beyond my imaginative powers to thinkof Jill as a young lady with her hair up, and Jack at Oxford, and Betty"an old maid. " (There's not much of the old maid about that photographshe sent out last mail!) All the fellows admire it tremendously, and itgives quite an air of beauty and fashion to my little cabin. I neverthought Betty would turn out so pretty, but there's no denying that shelooks a lot older. Tell Pam not to grow up if she loves me! I want tofind _someone_ the same as when I left!

Glad to hear the General and Mrs Digby are still happy and satisfiedwith each other, and that pretty Mrs, Vanburgh's little boy is all rightagain. Remember me to them, and to Cynthia Alliot when you see her. Isshe well? You have not mentioned her lately. 

Many thanks to father for the papers; you can hardly imagine how welcomethey are out here, or how eagerly one looks forward to mail days. Tellthat lazy Jill to write to a fellow now and then. She shall have nonuggets out of my El Dorado if she doesn't. Yes, I'm all right! Don'tworry about me, dear. I had a bit of a breakdown a month or two ago, but Gerard nursed me almost as well as you could have done yourself. Heis the best chum a man could have. Love to everybody, and most of allto yourself, dearest mater. --From your son, Miles. 

_Betty Trevor to her Brother Miles_. 

Dearest old Lad, --I missed the last mail, so I must send you an extralong scrawl to make up. Thanks so much for your last batch ofphotographs. I am glad you marked the names on the back, for really itis difficult to believe that that ferocious-looking bearded person isreally you! I am glad you have promised to shave it off before you comehome, for--honestly speaking--it's not becoming! Mr Gerard looks justa shade less disreputable than yourself, but I like him because he isnice to you. You can give him my kind regards. 

I've had ever such a good time since I wrote last, staying with theRendell girls--Nan Vanburgh's sisters, you know, whom you met at thatfirst historic party. They are dears, and so amusing that it's as goodas a play to be with them. Elsie is married, and Lilias, the beauty, isengaged--to a clergyman, if you please. Everyone is surprised, for shehas always been rather selfish and worldly, and cared only for peoplewho were rich and grand, and Mr Ross is not like that. He is ratherold, nearly forty, I think, and rather delicate, and very grave, and nota bit well off, and he thinks Lilias a miracle of goodness andsweetness, and the nice part is that she really _is_ growing nicer, because she likes him so much, and doesn't want him to be disappointed. They are all awfully pleased, and Agatha and Christabel think it will begreat sport to be the only girls in the house, and have no elder sisterleft to rule over them. The brother, Ned, is in love with the girls'great friend, Kitty Maitland, but she snubs him, though the girls sayshe likes him all the time, and only does it to pay him back for the wayhe used to snub her as a child, and because he is so conceited that shethinks it will do him good. He really _is_ a good deal spoiled by allthose six sisters. 

You see everybody seems to be falling in love and getting married exceptme, and I shall be an old maid. I don't like anyone, and I don't likeanyone to like me. I feel quite angry if anyone pays me the leastattention, and yet I'm lonely inside. Oh, Miles, why did you go so faraway, and turn into a great bearded stranger, when I wanted you at hometo talk to every day? I hate Mexico, and the valley, and the mine, and"my chum Gerard"--"my chum Gerard" most of all, because I'm so jealousof him. What business had he to nurse you, I should like to know! ButI pity him, if you were as cross as you used to be when you had a coldin the old days, and had to put your feet into mustard and water! Howwell I remember it! First the water was too hot, then it was too cold, and in the end there, was no water left in the bath, and the furniturewas afloat. Jack is not half so _difficile_ as you used to be! He hasgrown such a dear old thing, just as merry and mischievous as ever, butso kind, and thoughtful, and nice all round. Father is very proud ofhim, and he is the old General's special pet, and half lives there whenhe is at home. As for Jill, she is a MINX in capital letters. Sopretty and gay, and funny and charming, and naughty and nice, andaggravating and coaxing, and lazy and reckless, and altogether differentfrom everybody else, that my poor little nose is quite out of joint, andI heard an impertinent young man speaking of me the other night as "JillTrevor's sister"! That's what I have descended to, after all my loftyambitions--_Jill's sister_! How furious I should have been in the olddays, but now I don't seem to mind. Are you changed very much, oldMiles? Inside, I mean, I'm not thinking of the horrid beard. You aresuch a reserved person that your letters leave one in ignorance of thereal _you_. "My chum Gerard" knows you better than I do nowadays. Whatan awful thought! Life seems so different now from what it did ateighteen, and all one's ideals are changed. I had my usual yearly"token" from my friend of the fog this spring--just a newspaper postedfrom New York, as before, so that I know he is alive and well, but Ilong to know more, and sometimes it seems as if I never should. Sometimes--when I am in the blues--I feel as if that night was the onlytime in my life when I was really and truly of use. I suppose that'swhat makes me remember it so well, and think so much of the poor man. Ican remember his face still--so distinctly! Poor, poor fellow! Fathersays it's more difficult than ever to make money nowadays. He may workall his life, and never be able to pay off his debts. 

Cynthia! No; Cynthia is _not_ well. We didn't tell you before, becauseit's horrid to write bad news, and you two were good friends. Besides, we hoped she would get better. It began six months ago with an attackof influenza. She did not seem to throw it off, but grew thin, andcoughed--a horrid cough! They took her away, and did everything theycould, but so far she is no better, and I'm afraid there's no doubt thather lungs are affected. Mrs Alliot is awfully anxious, and so is herfather, who has retired now, as you know, and is home for good. Theyhave taken her away to the sea, and she lives out of doors, and has anurse, and everything that can possibly be got to make her better. Sheis very thin, but is quite bright and cheerful, and thinks abouteverybody in the world but herself. They hope she will get better; she_must_ get better--she's so young, and dear, and lovely, and everythingthat's sweet. I can't tell you what Cynthia has been to me all theseyears! Pray for her, Miles--pray _hard_! I rend the heavens forCynthia's life. 

That's all, old boy--I have no more news. Bother the nuggets! Comehome the instant you can. Father doesn't believe in gold-mines. Don'tlet "my chum Gerard" lead you into any wild-goose chase!--Always yourlovingest sister, Betty. 

_From General Digby to Jack Trevor_. 

My dear Boy, --If you were my own son (which I wish you were!) I couldnot have felt happier and prouder than I did on the receipt of yourletter this morning. To hear that you have decided to read for theministry, and that you attribute the origin of this choice to somechance words of mine uttered years ago--that is indeed an unexpectedjoy! This tongue of mine has uttered so many foolish sayings in itstime, and got me into so much trouble, that I am thankful beyondexpression to know that in this instance it has done some good for achange. Thank you, my boy, for giving me the satisfaction of knowing asmuch. I know it is hard for you young fellows to speak out. You mighteasily have kept it to yourself, and left me a poorer man. 

No! Since you ask my opinion, I'm convinced that it would be a thousandpities to drop any of your athletic interests. I'd rather advise you toput more grist into them, and come to the front as much as possible;short, of course, of interfering with your studies. When you have aparish of your own, or assist another man in his parish, you will have abig work to do among the boys and young men, and how do you think itwill affect _them_ to hear that you have pulled stroke in your boat, orplayed for the 'Varsity in football or cricket? Will they think less ofyou, or more? If I know masculine nature, it will give you an immediateinfluence which scarcely anything else could command. They will knowyou for a man, and a manly man into the bargain, a man who has likeinterests with themselves, and is not merely a puppet stuck up in thepulpit to babble platitudes, as so many fellows do nowadays--more shameto them! Play with the young fellows on Saturday;--let them feel thatyou understand and enter into their interests, and my name's not TerenceDigby if your serious words don't have a tenfold influence on Sunday. 

We must have a good talk on this subject when you come home. It is oneon which I feel very strongly. Let me know at any time if you want helpas to books, or any other expenses. Your father has enough to do withthe rest of the family, and it is a pleasure to me to pretend now andagain that you belong to me. 

All goes well at Brompton Square. Your mother wears well--a wonderfulwoman! None of her daughters will ever equal her, though Betty is twicethe girl she used to be, and Mademoiselle Jill makes havoc among theyoung fellows. My dear wife looks after me so carefully that my gout issteadily on the decline, and I grow younger year by year. Get the rightwoman for your wife, young fellow! I waited twenty years for mine, andshe's cheap at the price. --Your friend, Terence Digby. 

_Christabel Rendell to her sister Nan Vanburgh_. 

Dearest Mops, --I am in a state of abject collapse after rushing afterthe beagles yesterday, tearing all over the countryside, and leapingwildly over mountainous barriers, so I think I might as well spend mytime writing to you, as you have been hurling reproaches at me for mysilence. I couldn't possibly attempt letters while Betty was here, forwe only had a fortnight, and I didn't get through half what I wanted tosay. We enjoyed having her immensely, she's a perfect dear, and verypretty when she takes enough trouble, which isn't by any means alwaysthe case. I read her a severe lecture on the subject, and retrimmed herblue hat. I'm sure you'll think it improved. Talking of hats--I can'tunderstand why I am not a lunatic, after all I've experienced with myclothes this spring! Agatha and I went to a tailor's at Hertford andordered coats and skirts for morning wear. She wasn't in a hurry forhers, but I was simply panting for mine to take to the Goodmans' thenext Wednesday, so it was arranged that he should rush on with mine, andthat I should go over for a fitting on Monday. My dear, on Monday I wasa wreck!--toothache in every joint, chattering with cold, and the raindescended in floods. I ploughed to the station in a sort of dismal, it-is-my-duty-and-I-must kind of stupor; sat in the train with Mrs Ellis, who yelled at me the whole time about the Coal Club, and Mary Jane'slittle Emma's mumps; staggered along the roads to the tailor's shop, andsat shuddering in his nasty little room with my feet on a slipperyoilcloth as cold as ice. 

After about twenty minutes (it seemed three hours and a half)--he camein with a coat over his arm! _Agatha's coat_! I nearly swooned! . .. "Now you don't say so--really! Your sister's? And I made so sure itwas yours! Isn't that curious, now? I may say I have been in thetailoring trade, man and boy, for a matter of twenty years, an' I neverknew such a thing to occur before! Of course it wouldn't be any usesaying I could make another by Wednesday, for I should only disappoint, but if Miss Hagatha was to run over, such a thing as this hafternoon, she could have 'er's 'ome in the place of yours. " . .. I got home_somehow_, I don't know how, for my mind was a blank, fell into bed, andlay prostrate until the next day, when hope revived once more. If theworst came to the worst, I was sure of a new voile dress which MissGreen was making, and the old coat and skirt would do very well for themornings. The voile dress promised to be charming, for she really makesvery well when she likes; so I felt restored to equanimity, until ateleven o'clock, behold a small girl, to see Miss C Rendell--"Oh, if--you--please--Miss Green--says--as--she's--two--yards--short--of--the--material--and--could--you--make--it--convenient--to--get--it--to-day?"My brain reeled! As soon as I had sufficiently recovered, I rushedround to see her myself. "You _told_ me you only needed twelve yards, and I got thirteen!" "Yes, madam, but you see, madam, these guagingsrun into a deal of material. You wouldn't like them not to be full and'andsome. Just another two yards!" There was nothing else for it, so Ipromised to go up to town next morning (I couldn't possibly go thatday), and impressed upon the wretch to finish the bodice _first_, --as, if necessary, we could do with less trimming on the skirt. My dear, theworst is still to come! The shop was _sold out_ of the shade of voile, and could not get it again, and when I went back to Miss Green, she hadfinished the _skirt_, and had nothing left for sleeves! "Yes, Iremember you _did_ say do the bodice first, but I thought I'd be gettingon with the guaging. Guaging runs into a deal of time!" . .. I just layback, and said to myself, "Can it be real--or is it only a terriblenightmare?" We sat turning over hundreds of dirty old fashion plates, to find out how to make sleeves out of nothing, and they are sights, andI look an owl in them. There's only one comfort--if my brain has stoodsuch a strain, it will stand anything!

Lilias and Mr Ross are really very satisfactory, and considering thatshe is thirty (thirty! Isn't it appalling!), he is not a bit too old. It's nice to see her look happy and satisfied, and she has been as sweetas sugar ever since, and as pleased as possible with furnishing herlittle house, which will be quite poky and shabby compared with yours, or Maud's, or even Elsie's sanatorium. Poor old Lil! I'm glad she'sgoing to have a good time, at last. I'm afraid she has felt very "outof it" the last few years. 

Old Mr Vanburgh is longing for your next visit, and has his studysimply plastered over with portraits of the boy. I go to sit with himon wet afternoons, and listen meekly to praises of yourself, which Iknow to be absolutely undeserved. 

By the way--is Betty in love? Never a word could I get out of her, buther indifference to the admiration she got down here--and she got a gooddeal--was quite phenomenal, unless there is something behind! Methinksat times I trace a melancholy in her eye. Adieu, my love; this epistleought to make up for past delinquencies. --Yours ever, Christabel. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. 

MILES' RETURN. 

It was six years after his departure from home when Miles Trevor sailedagain for his native land. There had been some talk of his returnduring the previous winter, and bitter indeed had been thedisappointment when it was again postponed, and postponed on account ofthat ubiquitous person "my chum Gerard. " The prospecting expedition ofWill Gerard and his partner had at last been blessed with success;--ifreports could be believed, with extraordinary success, for the opinionof the experts who had visited the claim predicted for it an evengreater future than the Aladdin itself. Between the partners in theventure a sufficient sum had been raised to enable the mine to be"proved" by several shafts and cross-cuts, and the analyses of samplesproduced were so abundantly satisfactory, that there could be nodifficulty in obtaining all the money necessary to thoroughly developthe mine. Miles was intensely interested in his chum's prospects, whichto a certain extent were coincident with his own, for, according topromise, he had been allowed to buy a share in the land, which, small asit was, might turn out a more profitable investment than engineering. 

It was decided that while one partner stayed on the spot, Miles shouldfit in his holiday so as to be able to help Gerard with the work offloating a company in England, an arrangement which it was believedwould necessitate but a short delay. As is invariably the case in theseaffairs, however, matters took much longer to set in train than had beenoriginally expected, and it was a good six months later before thewelcome cablegram was received stating that the travellers were reallyon their way. 

Six years! Miles was a man of twenty-six, matured by a life ofenterprise and adventure. Betty admitted with horror to being "twenty-four next birthday, " and shivered at the remembrance that six more yearswould bring her to that dreaded thirty which she had once considered the"finis" of life. Jack and Jill were twenty, and if he were still a lad, she was a very finished product indeed, the acknowledged belle of herset, with a transparent satisfaction in her own success which would havebeen called vanity in a less popular person, but which in her case wasindulgently voted as yet another charm. Pam was fourteen, a lankyschoolgirl, who had outgrown her kitten-like graces, and entered theworld of school, where everything (including the return of a half-forgotten brother!) was secondary in interest to the strictures of"Maddie" on the subject of French verbs, the ambition of some daybecoming "head girl, " and the daily meetings with her bosom friendNellie Banks. 

Everyone had grown older; even little Jerry Vanburgh, who six yearsbefore had been by his own account "a baby angel up in heaven, " was nowa sturdy rascal of four, in man-of-war suits, whose love of fun andfrolic was worthy of his mother's son. 

What would Miles think of them all? Betty asked herself as she donnedher prettiest dress, in preparation for the long-expected hour. Wouldhe be prepared for the changes which had taken place, or feel surprisedand chilled, perhaps even disappointed, to find his old companionsturned into comparative strangers? He had never had much imagination, dear old lad!--it would be just like him to come home expecting to findeverything looking as if he had left it but a month before. 

Betty leant her arms on the dressing-table and stared scrutinisingly ather reflection in the mirror. She had always been a severe judge of herown charms, and now the remembrance of Jill's sparkling little face madeher own appear unnaturally grave and staid; still, when all was said anddone, she looked very _nice_!--the old schoolgirl word came in as everto fill an awkward place. 

Twenty-four though she undoubtedly was, it was certain that she wasprettier than she had been at eighteen, and pink was Miles' favouritecolour--she had remembered that in buying her new dress, and had chosenit especially for his benefit. "Oh, I hope he'll like me! He _must_like me!" she cried to herself, with a rush of love and longing swellingat her heart. How was it that as one grew older, home ceased to be theabsolutely complete and satisfying world which it had been in earlydays? Why was it that, surrounded with father and mother, and sistersand brothers, all dear and kind and loving, the heart would yetexperience a feeling of loneliness, a longing for something toointangible to be put into words?

"I want something--_badly_! What can it be?" Betty had questioned ofherself times and again during the last few years, and the invariableanswer had been--"Miles! It must be the loss of Miles which I feel moreand more, instead of less and less. When Miles comes home there will benothing left to wish for in all the world!" And now in an hour, --inhalf an hour, Miles would be with her once more! Dr Trevor and Jackhad gone to the station to meet him, but his mother and the girls hadpreferred to wait at home. "So that you can all howl, and hang roundhis neck at once--I know you!" Jack had cried teasingly. "Take myadvice, and cut short the huggings. When fellows have roughed itabroad, they don't like being mauled!"--at which a chorus of feminineindignation had buzzed about his ears. 

"Mauled, indeed! Howl, indeed! They trusted they knew how to behavewithout his advice! Would it not be well if he allowed Miles himself tosay what he did and did not like? Had he not better rehearse his ownconduct, before troubling himself about other people's?" So on, and soon, until Jack fled in dismay, fingers in ears. That was the worst ofchaffing girls--they would always insist upon having the last word!

Downstairs in the sitting-rooms all was _en fete_, the best mats andcovers and cushions being exhibited for the benefit of one who wouldprobably never notice their existence, or might even be misguided enoughto imagine that chiffon-draped cushions were meant for use, notornament. Flowers were tastefully arrayed in every available position;the tea-table lacked only the presence of pot and kettle; Jill hadarranged the little curl on her forehead at its most artless andcaptivating angle--in a word, preparation was complete!

"Sit down, dears--sit down! You make me nervous fidgeting about, and--I'm nervous enough already!" said Mrs Trevor tremulously, and her threebig daughters obediently sank down on chairs and stared at each otheracross the room. 

"I'm very sorry to say so--but I'm _ill_!" cried Betty tragically. "Ifeel awful. A kind of crawly, creepy--all--overish--sick-swimming-kind-of-feeling--I think I'm going to faint! I'm sorry to alarm you--"

But no one was in the least alarmed. Mrs Trevor only smiled feebly, while the other girls expatiated upon even more alarming symptoms. 

"My heart is going like a sledge-hammer, " sighed Jill. "I feel everymoment as if it might _burst_!--I can't see you. The air is full ofspots--"

"I'm as dizzy as dizzy, " declared Pam eloquently. "I feel exactly as Idid that Wednesday Nellie and I ate chocolates all the afternoon in ahot room. If he doesn't come soon we'd better all lie down. We couldget up again when we heard the bell. "

"The bell, indeed! Miles shall not have to ring the bell when hearrives home after six years' absence, if his mother is alive to openthe door for him!" cried Mrs Trevor indignantly, and then suddenly shegave a cry, and rushed across the room. A cab laden with luggage haddrawn up before the door. Miles had arrived!

Well, after all Jack was right! They _did_ all hang round him at once. Mrs Trevor was folded in his arms, but Betty and Jill each hung on to aside, while Pam stroked the back of his head, and if they did notexactly "howl, " they were certainly by no means dry-eyed. 

"My boy! My boy!" cried the mother. "Miles, oh, Miles!" sobbed thegirls; and Miles mumbled incoherent answers in his big man's voice, andquietly but surely pushed his way into the drawing-room. _His_ eyeswere shining too, but he had no intention that the passers-by shouldwitness his emotion. He looked enormously big and broad, and tanned andimportant. Handsome Miles would never be, but his was a good strongface, with the firmly-set lips and clear, level gaze which speak soeloquently of a man's character, and his mother thanked God with a fullheart as she welcomed him back. 

As for Miles himself, the sight of his mother brought with it a pang ofsadness, for though outsiders might exclaim at her youthful appearance, six years on the wrong side of forty can never fail to leave behind themheavy traces, and to the unaccustomed eyes she looked greatly changed. He kept his arm round her as they moved forward, and his eyes grew verytender. The little mother was growing old! Her hair was quite grey, her pretty cheeks had lost their roundness--he must take more care ofher than ever. She enjoyed being cared for, as all nice women did. Andthen Miles sat down and drank tea, and they all settled themselves tothe difficult task of making conversation after a long absence. Itseems sad that it should be difficult, but it is invariably the case, for when there is so much to tell, and to ask, it is difficult to knowwhere to begin, and a certain strangeness follows hard on the firstexcitement. Were these smart young ladies truly and actually Betty andJill; this young man with the Oxford drawl the once unkempt and noisyJack? And who was this shy and awkward maypole, who had taken the placeof dear, cuddlesome, wee Pam?

If it had not been for Dr Trevor, conversation would have halted sadlyduring the first difficult quarter of an hour, but that gentleman wasfortunately free from sentimental embarrassment, and kept the ballrolling by his practical questions and remarks. 

The voyage, it appeared, had been unusually calm and agreeable, and thepartners had thoroughly enjoyed the rest after the somewhat worryingwork of the last six months. Yes, everything was working out splendidlyas regards the new mine, and Miles was convinced that only time wasnecessary to turn it into a huge success. Will Gerard would be amillionaire some fine day, or something very like a millionaire, and hewould deserve all he got. The best fellow and the smartest, and thehardest working, and the truest chum--

In the background saucy Jill dumbly echoed these well-worn sentiments, rolling her eyes ceilingwards, and declaiming with outstretched hands, till Miles, turning suddenly, caught sight of her, and burst into one ofhis old hearty laughs. 

"Well, what does that mean, Jill? What have I said to amuse you?"

Jill sparkled at him in her most captivating manner. 

"_Toujours le bon_ Gerard! We have heard so much of this marvel that weare dying to behold him. Snap-shots, we know, are not the mostflattering medium, so we ought not to judge by the likenesses we havealready seen, but he hardly appeals to me as a miracle of beauty! Whendoes he propose to dazzle our eyes by appearing before us in the flesh?"

Miles laughed once more. 

"Not till next week, so you must exercise your patience, my dear. Hehas his own people to see, and besides that he has too much tact tointrude upon a fellow's first days at home. Gerard always knows what isthe right--" He broke off hastily as Jill resumed her silent pantomimeof admiration. "Oh, all right! I won't praise him any more. You canfind out his good points for yourself. If the truth were known, Idaresay he is anxious to get a new rig-out before he pays calls onfascinating young ladies. We have neither of us a decent coat to ourbacks, and must go tailor-hunting the first thing to-morrow morning. Wehave not had much ladies' society abroad. I expect Gerard will fallheadlong in love when he sees you in that blouse, Jill!"

"I expect he will. They generally do! But it's no use. I don't carefor Colonials!" drawled Miss Jill, chin in air, and Miles' heatedrepudiation of the term as applied to either his partner or himselffailed to move her from her front. 

"Jill is waiting for Prince Edward of Wales. There's no other unmarriedmale who comes up to her standpoint, " said her father, laughing; andonce more Miles marvelled at the changes of the years!

When bedtime came, Betty looked shyly at the new Miles, who seemed stillmore than half a stranger, and felt her heart throb with pleasure as hisgrasp tightened on her arm, and he said affectionately--

"Come into my room for a chat, old girl, before you turn in! It won'tseem like home unless I see you perched on my bed nursing your knees andyour grievances at the same time. Got any grievances nowadays, eh? Youused generally to have a good stock on hand. We'll have to lay themtogether while I'm at home. That's what I want to do--give you all arattling good time! It's what I have looked forward to most in cominghome. How are things going, really? Quite well? No bothers andworries that you have been keeping to yourselves, for fear of making meanxious?"

"Nothing big, dear--only the little worries which one must grin and putup with. "

Betty perched herself on the bed, and fell into the old position, whileMiles sat down on the chair by the dressing-table, and began unlacinghis shoes with the same, oh, the very same gestures which he had usedevery night during the many long years when this evening conference hadbeen the brightest spot in the day! It was as if time had flashed backfor a moment, and they were boy and girl together once more! Betty'seyes melted in tender rejoicing, and Miles cried heartily--

"Bet, my dear, you've grown rattling pretty! You beat Jill into fitswhen you look like that. You must wear that frock when Gerard comesnext week. It suits you splendidly. "

"I got it for your sake--not Mr Gerard's. You always liked pink, Miles. Oh, I shan't have any grievances now that you are home. I amreally and truly far less grumbly than I used to be. I have tried hardto make it a duty to be happy, since I discovered--you know how!--howimaginary my troubles really were--but sometimes I have felt verylonely. I think one does, as one grows older, for there seem so manythings that one can't talk about to the best of friends. Of course youmay not understand the feeling--you are so devoted to Mr Gerard. "

Miles kicked his shoes in opposite directions--another old trick!--andstroked his chin silently. The offending beard had disappeared, but theskin was dark with constant shaving, and there were new lines in hisface. This was a man indeed. The boy had disappeared for ever. 

"I don't think I should advertise my loneliness even to Gerard, " he saidslowly. Then, leaning forward and opening a drawer in the dressing-table, "How is Cynthia?" he queried abruptly. 

"Better!" replied Betty, so quietly that no one would have guessed theleap of excitement which her heart had given at the sound of herfriend's name uttered in this connection. "Very delicate still, butcertainly better. They live entirely in the country for her sake, andthe doctors think that in a year or two she will probably be quite wellagain. Meantime she is treated like an invalid, and we can seldom meet. It isn't good for her to chatter, and it isn't supposed to be good formy health to be there. I _ache_ for her, Miles! No one will ever knowwhat it has meant for me to be separated like this. "

Miles sat silently staring at his stockinged feet. His eyes werehidden, the heavy moustache covered the lines of his mouth, yet as Bettylooked at him she felt a stab of reproach, as if, while pitying herself, she had inadvertently probed a deeper wound. Had Miles also ached forCynthia? Had the separation from her been the hardest part of his longexile? She longed to question him on the subject, but the stern, setface gave no encouragement to curiosity, however affectionate. 

"We are to go down to see her some day soon. She was almost as muchexcited about your coming home as we were ourselves, and we can run downto Franton and back quite easily in the day. You won't be occupied withbusiness every day while you are at home, will you, Miles? You will beable to give up some of your time to us?"

"Oh dear, yes. This is by way of being a holiday, and I mean to takeyou girls about, and the mater too, if she will come. We must see themining business in train first, and then we'll go off somewhere and havea good time. I haven't worked for nothing all these years, and the bestchance of enjoying myself is to see your enjoyment. Things don't alwayswork out as we expect--but we must make the best of what remains--"

He sighed, and rose from his chair with a gesture which somehow madeBetty conscious that he wished to be alone. It had been a very shortchat, and the impression left was rather sad than cheerful. She put herarms round Miles' neck, kissed him fervently, but in silence, and stoleaway to her own room. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. 

MR. GERARD. 

Clad in an immaculate frock-coat, with a hat of irreproachable shininesson his head, a flower in his buttonhole, and every detail of his attirecorrectly up-to-date, "my chum Gerard" made his appearance to call atBrompton Square on the Monday afternoon following Miles' return. 

"I've met him a hundred times in Piccadilly!" was Jill's comment on thestranger, and indeed he had far more the air of a fashionable Londonerthan of a miner from the far-off wilds of Mexico. As tall as Miles, though of a more slender build, showing in the same eloquent fashion themarks of recent shaving, rather handsome than plain, rather dark thanfair, there seemed at first sight little to distinguish him from ahundred other men of the same age. On a closer acquaintance, however, afurther attraction was found in the grave, steady glance of the eyes, and in a rare smile, lighting up somewhat careworn features into acharming flash of gaiety. Mr Gerard was evidently unused to laughter--with all his sterling qualities Miles could not be described as ahumorous companion!--and the programme of the past years had been allwork and no play. As he sat in Mrs Trevor's drawing-room that firstafternoon, he listened in a somewhat dazed fashion to the banter whichwent on between Jack and his sisters; but after some time had passed hisface began to soften, the corners of his mouth twitched, and presentlyout flashed that delightful, whole-hearted smile, and Betty, meeting it, buried at once and for ever all lingering prejudices against herbrother's friend. 

It was fortunate that Mr Gerard had made a favourable impression on theyoung people, for, at Miles' earnest request, he was invited to take uphis quarters at Brompton Square for the next few weeks. 

"His own people live in the country; he has no friends that he caresabout in town, and I hate the thought of him moping alone in an hotelafter all he has done for me. Besides, we ought to be together justnow. There will be business to talk over every night until we get thiscompany floated, and if he were not here I should always have to begoing over to him--"

The last argument settled the matter in Mrs Trevor's eyes. Truth totell, she was not too anxious to introduce a stranger into her reunitedfamily circle, but if it were easier and more convenient for Miles, andensured for herself a greater amount of his society, it was impossibleto refuse. She reaped the reward of merit in a growing liking andadmiration for her guest, who was even pathetically grateful for herhospitality, and appreciative of the home atmosphere to which he had solong been a stranger. 

Business engrossed the greater part of the time, but there were oddhours of leisure when the girls were suddenly commanded to get readywith all possible speed, and spirited off for an afternoon on the river, or on bicycle expeditions to the country, ending up with an evening mealat some old-fashioned country inn. They were treated to concerts also, and to entertainments of all sorts, including welcoming parties atfriends' houses, and when they bemoaned the speedy wearing out ofevening dresses, Miles insisted upon providing new ones, regardless ofexpense. 

"It's most grateful and comforting to have a gold-mine in the family, "cried Jill, making languishing eyes at the senior partner. Of courseshe flirted with him--Jill flirted with everything in the shape of aman--monopolising his attention on all occasions in a manner which wouldhave been somewhat trying to most elder sisters. 

"But I know you don't mind. You like best of all to be with Miles, "said Jill easily, when some remark of the sort was made, and Betty'sreply held an unexpected tartness. 

"I don't mind in the least. It is a matter of perfect unconcern to mehow Mr Gerard behaves; but you are my sister. I am sorry to see youlowering your dignity, by being so silly, and flighty, and ridiculous!I am sure he must laugh at you in private?"

"He laughs to my face, dear. I amuse him wonderfully. He told meyesterday that I was as good as a tonic. Such a pity you should botheryour poor old head about me! _I_ understand men, my dear!"

The insinuation of that emphasised "I" was unmistakable. Jill began tohum--an aggravating habit of hers when she felt the mistress of asituation--and tripped lightly out of the room. 

And Betty sat and thought. Burning like a furnace, throbbing in everynerve, shaking her even as she sat, came a sudden fierce heat of angersuch as she had not experienced for many a long year. She had beenaccustomed to regard Jill's flirtation from a mental height ofaffectionate disdain, to laugh with purest amusement at her assumptionof superiority, but now of a sudden indifference had changed to angerand a sore rankling of jealousy, which puzzled as much as it disturbed. It could not be that she herself coveted Mr Gerard's attention!Cynthia, Nan Vanburgh, all her friends had remarked times and again uponher indifference to masculine admiration, for, strange as it might seem, that romantic interview in the fog six years before had linked hersympathies so strangely with one man's lot that she had had none tospare for later comers. Under God's providence she had saved a life, and while those voiceless messengers told of its preservation, it mustremain the one supreme interest of life. Some day "Ralph" would comehome. Some day he would appear before her to announce his taskcompleted, and to claim her friendship as his reward. Her motherpleaded with her not to allow a romantic fancy to ruin her life, pointedout that "Ralph" might have married long before now, that even if hereturned she might be bitterly disappointed in his identity. In vain!Betty could not argue. She _felt_--and that was the end of the matter. The sympathetic attraction was too strong to be one-sided. At the otherside of the ocean "Ralph" was waiting for her, even as she for him, andthe meeting would surely come. It might be years hence, but--marvellousthought!--it might be to-day. Each fresh awakening brought with it athrill and a hope. 

All these long years had this fantasy lasted; it was not possible thatit was beginning to fade at the sight of a pair of grave grey eyes, atthe sound of a man's deep-toned voice!

Betty sat and thought. Ten minutes passed, twenty minutes, half anhour. 

Jill thrust her head round the corner of the door to give a carelessinvitation. 

"I'm going for a trot before dinner. Come along too. It will do yougood. "

"No, thank you. I'd rather not. "

"Sulking still? Goodness, I thought you'd have recovered by this time!Bye-bye, my dear. Hope you'll get it over before dinner. "

She was humming again as she made her way to the door, where, no doubt, Mr Gerard waited to accompany her. The invitation had been a politematter of form to which an acceptance was not desired. Betty leant herhead on the table and lived through a moment of bitterness before thedoor opened once more, and a voice said--

"If you are not going out, may I come in for a few minutes? Miles hasnot yet--" Then, in a tone of startled concern, "I beg your pardon! Iam interrupting you. You are in trouble?"

Betty straightened herself with a nervous laugh. 

"Oh, please come in! It's nothing. I only felt rather--upset. Something vexed me, but it's nothing of any importance. Can I doanything for you? Are you expecting Miles? He said he would be homequite early. Were you going out together?"

"Yes, we have some calls to pay, but there's still half an hour tospare. He will be up to time, I'm sure. Miles is always punctual. "

Mr Gerard seated himself, and looked with concern at Betty's face, onwhich the signs of her mental conflict were clearly printed. It wasalmost the first time that they had been alone together, for _tete-a-tetes_ were of rare occurrence in the doctor's busy household, and therewas a perceptible hesitation on both sides. 

"No, thank you! You can do nothing for me, but I wish I could helpyou, " said Gerard. "Can't I pummel somebody? Miles will tell you Ihave a good fighting arm. If anyone has been annoying you--"

That made Betty laugh, with a quick wonder as to what Mr Gerard wouldsay if he knew the identity of his proposed opponent. 

"No, no, thank you! I must fight my own battles. As a matter of fact, it's more temper than anything else. I have a most intrusive temper. It is always pushing itself forward--"

She expected the usual polite disclaimer, but it did not come. WillGerard looked at her for a minute, as if thoughtfully weighing her inthe balance, and then the delightful irradiating smile passed over hisfeatures. 

"And it is more difficult to fight now than in the old days, when youcould let yourself go, have a grand rampage, and trust to time and thearoma of roast chestnuts to make the peace!" he said mischievously; andwhen Betty started in dismay--

"Oh, I know all about it! The subject of home is very attractive whenone is alone in exile. I could hardly know more about you if I'd been amember of your schoolroom party. I used to lure Miles on to talk of olddays. It kept us both occupied. Do you remember the occasion when youdecided to starve yourself to death, because you imagined that you hadbeen unjustly treated, and then got up in the middle of the first nightto raid a cold chop from the larder? Or the time you vowed vengeance onMiles for cutting off the ends of your hair to make paint brushes, repented after you went to bed, and went to make it up, when heconcluded you were playing ghosts, and nearly throttled you as awelcome?"

Betty laughed, undecided between amusement and vexation. 

"It's too bad! He seems to have given me away all round. If he wasgoing to tell tales, he might have told flattering ones. I am sure Iwas often very nice, or I was always sorry if I wasn't. I used to roastchestnuts and muffins, and eat oranges and peppermints with the doorwide open to lure him back. They were dear old days! I am glad heremembered them, but it must have been boring for you. Did he--did hetell you--more things about me?"

"Many more!"

"Principally about me? More than about the others?"

"You were his special chum. It was natural that he should speak most ofyou. "

"And--er--my letters! Did he read those aloud?"

"Parts of them. I never saw them, of course, except--"

"Except when?"

"When he was ill. He could not read himself, and was anxious to hearthe news. Three letters from you arrived during that time. He said itdid not matter. That there would be no secrets in them--nothing youwould not wish me to know. "

Betty flushed, cast an agonised thought back through the years, to tryto remember the gist of those three missives, failed completely, andnervously twisted her fingers together. 

"There was one thing they would show you pretty plainly, which I'drather have kept secret. "

"Yes?"

"Myself?"

She looked across the room with a flickering glance, and met WillGerard's steady gaze. 

"Yes, " he said slowly. "They showed me yourself!"

That was all. Not another word, either of praise or blame. Did he hateher then--think her altogether flighty and contemptible, or had theletters been by chance good specimens of their number, and did he likethem, and think her "nice"? The face told her nothing in its graveimpenetrability. She felt herself blushing more deeply than ever, rallied all her powers with the determination that she would _not_ bestupid, and cried gaily--

"Well, after all, the confidence was not all on one side! We heardenough about you. `My chum Gerard' has been a household word among usfor years past. You were such a paragon that we were quite bored withthe list of your perfections. " She raised her hands and began checkingoff his characteristics on the different fingers in charming, mischievous fashion. "My chum Gerard is so clever, --so industrious, --sofar-seeing, --so thoughtful, --so generous, --so kind, --so helpful--no! Iam not going to stop; I've not half-finished yet. --All that he does iswise; all that he tries, succeeds; all that he has, he shares; and whenhe speaks, let no dog bark! When we read about impossible heroes inbooks we called them `Gerard'; when we wanted to express the acme ofperfection, we called a thing `Gerardy. ' Jill read aloud the _SwissFamily Robinson_ to Pam, and called the good proper papa `Mr Gerard'all the way through. So now!"

"Now, indeed!" echoed the real Mr Gerard, laughing. "You are certainlyrevenged, Miss Trevor. I don't know anything more trying than to bepreceded by an impossibly exaggerated character! The reality is boundto be a disappointment. Miles has credited me with his own virtues, forin reality I am a very faulty person; not in the least like thatparagon, Robinson Papa, of whom I have a vivid remembrance. He wouldhave been a useful person out in Mexico, all the same. That convenienthabit of discovering every necessity for the table or the toilet on thenearest bush would have helped us out of many a dilemma. "

They laughed together over the old-time memory, and then, suddenlysobering, Mr Gerard continued--

"At any rate, Miss Trevor, the fact remains, that by `good report orill, ' even by sight, so far as photographs can reproduce us, we havebeen intimately acquainted with each other for the last six years. Sixyears is a long time. It ought to enable us to meet as friends ratherthan acquaintances?"

The last sentence was uttered more as a question than a fact, and Bettyanswered with eager acquiescence. 

"Oh yes, as friends, quite old friends. It is far better so--"

"Yet there are times when you treat me like the veriest stranger! Itmust be my own fault. Have I done or said anything since my arrivalwhich has displeased you?"

"Oh no! Please don't think so. It was nothing at all, not a thing, except only that--"

She could not say, "Except that you seemed to prefer Jill's society tomine, " and so complete the sentence; so she subsided into blushingsilence, and Mr Gerard tactfully forbore to question. 

"Don't let there be any more `excepts' or `buts, ' please! Take me ontrust as Miles' friend and--if you will allow me--your own. That is allI request. "

At this interesting moment the sound of a latchkey was heard in thefront door, followed by voices and footsteps in the hall. Mr Gerardmuttered something under his breath. What the exact words were Bettydid not know, but they were certainly not indicative of pleasure. Thenthe door opened, and Miles entered, followed by Jill, who had met herbrother soon after starting for her walk, and had escorted him back tothe house. 

She raised her eyebrows at the sight of Mr Gerard. Had he not refusedto go out with her a few minutes before, on the score of letters to bewritten? Yet here he was, talking to Betty, with never a pretence ofpaper or ink in the room. 

Jill came down to dinner an hour or two later, attired in her prettiestdress, with the little curl, which Jack naughtily termed the "War Cry, "artlessly displayed on her forehead. She did not care two pins abouther brother's partner, but it was her nature to wish to reign supremewith any man with whom she was brought into contact, so she was her mostcaptivating self all the evening, and Will Gerard laid his hand on hisheart and bowed before her, laughed at her sallies, and applauded hersongs, as he had done every evening since his arrival, and Betty laughedand applauded in her turn, without a trace of the old rankling jealousy. "He talks to her, but he looks at me. He wants _me_ to be his friend!"she told herself with a proud content. 

For the first time for many a long year her dreams that night were inthe present, instead of in the past. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. 

A MOONLIGHT WALK. 

Cynthia wrote to beg that Betty would soon come down to see her, andbring her old pupil to be reintroduced to his mentor, but time passedby, and one day after another was vetoed by Miles himself. Betty wasnonplussed. It seemed as if he did not want to go. Yet she couldhardly believe that such could be the case, when she recalled to memorythe tone of his voice, the look on his face when, for the first and lasttime since his return, Miles had voluntarily mentioned Cynthia's name. 

"It is quite an easy journey. We can get there in less than two hoursby an express train, stay for lunch and tea, and get home again in timefor dinner. I've been down twice this spring, and it is quite easilymanaged, " she protested; but Miles would do nothing but grunt, andrefuse a definite answer. To spend three or four hours in Franton, alarge proportion of which would be taken up in eating meals, and talkingto other people--this was not his idea of a first visit to Cynthia aftersix years of absence. He continued to grunt and make objections for thenext few weeks, and then one night at dinner he announced airily--

"I've taken rooms at the Grand at Franton for a week from Friday. Ithought, as we were going down in any case, we might as well do thething comfortably, and have a breath of sea-air. Awfully stuffy in townthis last week! They say the Grand is the best hotel, and we shall befairly comfortable there. Four bedrooms, and a private sitting-room foryou, mater, in case you want to be quiet. Gerard's coming along; andyou'll come too--over Sunday, at least--I hope, father?"

"Over Sunday, certainly. I can manage that very well; and perhapsHorton can take on my work for a few days. There are no very seriouscases on at present, and a rest would be very delightful!" said thetired doctor with a sigh. His wife brightened instantly at the thoughtof his pleasure, while Betty and Jill flushed with excitement. 

Rooms at the Grand! The best hotel, where perchance they might be"comfortable"! They had never before stayed in an hotel; lodgings, andcheap lodgings into the bargain, had been their portion on the occasionof their rare holiday-makings. The grandeur of the prospect drove outevery other thought, and, to his own immense relief, Miles escapedembarrassing comments on his sadden change of front. 

"I hope we shan't have meals in the private room, " Jill said anxiously. "The great fun of staying in an hotel is to see the people, and--er--"

"Be seen by the people?"

"Exactly! Especially the latter. Don't ask me to do a single thingbefore Friday, for I shan't have a second to spare. I'm off remnant-hunting this morning, and shall be glued to the sewing-machine for therest of the time. Two new blouses at least I _must_ have, if I am topose before the public eye--"

"Oh, bother remnants! We'll go to Regent Street this morning, and buyhalf a dozen blouses between you. I am not going to take you to anhotel in remnants!" cried Miles with masculine scorn. 

Since his return from abroad the eldest son of the family displayed adisregard of money which seemed next door to criminal in the eyes of hiscareful relations. Why worry to make up a blouse for three-and-sixpencewhen you can buy a better one for three guineas? That was his presentattitude of mind; and when the girls hesitated, --fascinated yetfearful, --the reply was always the same--

"I've slaved hard enough all these years! This is my holiday. I'vecome home to enjoy myself, and see you enjoy yourselves, and I'm notgoing to worry my head about shillings. For pity's sake take what youcan get, and don't fuss!"

It is the attitude of all men who come back to civilisation after a longabsence, and in Miles' case it could truthfully be said that hisextravagances benefited other people infinitely more than himself. 

It was a very merry party which travelled down to Franton a few dayslater, and the comfort and grandeur of the hotel exceeded even thegirls' expectation. All the bedrooms secured were situated on thefront, and were provided with dear little balconies, on which they couldsit and gaze over the sea. The drawing-room was a gorgeous apartment--all yellow satin and white archways, and banks of flowers. The dining-hall was dotted over with little tables, a larger one in a bay-windowbeing reserved for the Trevor party. The lounge was provided withinnumerable couches and wicker chairs, in which one could loll at ease, scrutinising the other visitors, or submitting to scrutiny on one's ownaccount, with a delightful consciousness of a Regent Street blouse. Thegardens and shrubberies would have been quite irresistible, had it notbeen that just beyond their bounds stretched the firm golden sands, onwhich the white-crested waves broke with a siren sound. 

"Go to bed without a walk on the shore by moonlight--I can't and_won't_, not if ten fathers, and fifty thousand mothers went down ontheir knees and implored me to be prudent!" asserted audacious Jill, asshe finished her after-dinner coffee; whereupon Dr Trevor laughed good-naturedly, and said--

"There's only one father present, and the only knees he possesses aremuch too stiff to exert themselves in a hopeless cause! Run along, mydear; I should have felt the same at your age. Put on a shawl. Miles, you will see that your sisters don't run wild, and that they come in bya sensible hour. "

So the four young people wandered along the sands, and watched themoonlight play upon the waters; but there was no need of the last partof the doctor's warning, for even Jill grew quiet and subdued, andforgot to tease and banter. Coming fresh from the noisy, crowded city, there was something inexpressibly impressive in the long stretch ofsand, the dark, mysterious waters, the loneliness, the silence, brokenonly by the rhythmic break of the waves. 

Miles walked alone, his face lifted now and again to the top of thecliff on which stood the villa which the Alliots had hired for thesummer months. Betty looked across the waste of waters, and felt a pangof compunction. How long was it since she had last thought of herfriend across the sea? Fainter and more faint had his image beengrowing, until from forming a constant background to her thoughts, ithad become a positive effort to remember. She turned aside from WillGerard's whispered words, and passed her hand through her brother's arm. To be beside Miles was in itself an incentive to loyalty. 

Next morning at eleven o'clock, Betty and Miles started to walk up tothe Alliots' villa, leaving Jill and Will Gerard seated on the shorethrowing pebbles into the sea, with every appearance of satisfactionwith themselves, and their occupation. The path was steep but not verylong, and at the entrance to the garden Mrs Alliot was strolling about, as if awaiting their arrival. She kissed Betty and patted heraffectionately on the shoulder. 

"Cynthia is waiting for you. Run along to her, dear! I will followwith your brother, and hear some of his news, " she said in a light tonewhich yet held a hint of command, and, when Betty disappeared, sheturned in an opposite direction, so as to take the least direct path tothe house. 

"I am sure your mother is delighted to have you back! It is delightfulthat you have been so successful in your work. We have been sointerested in your adventures. "

The short conventional sentences were the only references made to Miles'own affairs, and then, as if in a hurry to get to the subject most onher mind, Mrs Alliot began to speak of her daughter. 

"You will be surprised to find Cynthia looking so well. She has put onflesh during the last few months, and the sea-air has given her acolour. Last winter she was painfully thin. It has been a long uphillstruggle, but now at last we begin to see definite improvement. Thedoctors are confident that it will be a complete cure if we are verycareful during the next two or three years. The great thing is to livein pure bracing air, and to keep her happy and cheerful. Anything thatcaused agitation or worry of any kind, would have a deleterious effect. She has a very sensitive nature, and things go deeply with her, --moredeeply than with most girls. Her father and I hide all worries fromher, even our anxiety about herself. We, and all the friends who loveher, must unite in doing everything in our power to spare her duringthese all-important years. I know you will understand the position. "

"Yes, " said Miles quietly, "I perfectly understand. "

He had grown very white beneath his tan, and Mrs Alliot, glancingswiftly at him, felt a pang of compunction. Poor young fellow, it washard on him, if he really cared! Yet she had done no more than her dutyin warning him that he could not be allowed to disturb Cynthia's peaceof mind. So far, the girl was fancy free, but her interest in thereturn of her boy-friend was so strong that a word, a look, a hint ofhis own feeling might be sufficient to fan it into a stronger flame. 

"But now that I have spoken he knows how things are, and he is a goodfellow! He will think of her before himself, " said Cynthia's mother toherself with a sigh of relief. 

For the rest of the way to the house Mrs Alliot talked on impersonalsubjects, and Miles answered with colourless politeness; then, at last, across a wide green lawn, a sun shelter came into view, in which Bettycould be discerned, and someone else in a white dress lying on a couchbanked up with blue cushions. 

"There are the girls! Don't wait for me! Go across the lawn, " saidMrs Alliot kindly. 

When one has dealt the one great blow, it is easy enough to maketrifling concessions, reflected Miles bitterly, as he strode forward;but the next moment all bitterness died away as he grasped a thin whitehand, and looked down into a face which was at once strange, andexquisitely familiar. Cynthia, but Cynthia as a woman, no longer aschoolgirl; Cynthia with her golden mane wound smoothly round her head, with blue shadows under the sweet eyes, and hollows where the dimplesused to dip in the rounded cheeks. At the first glance the air ofdelicacy was painfully pronounced, but as she smiled and flushed, theold merry Cynthia looked at him once more. 

"Miles! Is it really you? I can hardly believe it! Such a great, bigman! Oh, but I'm glad! I'm glad to see you again! Sit down, sit down. Let me see you properly. I mayn't get up from this horrid couch. Yes, it's you! I'd know your eyes anywhere, and the moustache is nice--avery fine moustache, Miles! I'm glad the beard is off. I like yoursquare chin. It is lovely to have you all here, and to know you havenot to run away in a few hours. I'm looking forward immensely to thenext week. Old Miles! It _is_ good to see you!"

She laughed and coughed, and lent back against the cushions, pushingthem into place with an impatient hand; while Miles stared at her in anintent silence which printed every detail so deeply in his memory thatno passage of time could wear them away. The loose ends of hair whichescaped from the coils and curled on her white neck, the longtransparent hands against the blue cushions, the slight figure in thewhite dress--how often that vision arose before him in the years tocome!

As of old, Cynthia's friendliness showed no hint of embarrassment, andshe chatted away as easily as if the separation had lasted for weeksinstead of years. Betty had tactfully rejoined Mrs Alliot, and for thenext half-hour Miles was allowed an uninterrupted _tete-a-tete_. 

"Tell me all about everything!" cried Cynthia, just as years before shehad demanded an account of Miles' engineering studies; and when heprotested, "Oh, it's quite easy, " she maintained, "Tell me the historyof a day. You wake in the morning, and get up, and then--what next? Gothrough the whole programme until it is time to go to bed again. "

Then Miles spoke, and she listened eagerly, the flush dying out of hercheeks and a wistful expression deepening in her eyes. 

"It's just as I said long ago, " she sighed plaintively when he hadfinished; "you have gone out into the world and done things, and I havestayed at home and done--_nothing_! Oh, Miles, it was hard being takenill just then! Father had come home, and we were looking forward totravelling about, and having a good time together, and being so happy. I had finished classes, and was old enough to come out, and I meant tobe such a good daughter, and to take care of the parents for a change, after being taken care of all my life. I was going to my first ball--mydress was in the house--when I caught influenza, and since then"--shethrew out her arms with an expressive gesture--"it's been this sort ofthing all the time! Lying still--eating--sleeping--being waited on handand foot; an anxiety instead of a help; a care instead of a joy--oh, andI _did_ want to be a joy!" She paused a moment to press her lipstogether, and to give her head an impatient shake. "I mustn't be silly!Father and mother don't guess that I feel like this, and it isn'talways so bad. Some days I feel quite bright and happy, especiallylately, since I've been getting better, but seeing you brought back thedear old days, and oh, I _want_ to be well again, and run about with youon the sands. I shan't be able to go about with you at all. "

"I will come and sit with you as often as I may--as long as I may, " saidMiles huskily whereupon Cynthia smiled on him again. 

"How nice of you! Ah yes, you must come. I'll keep quite quiet for therest of the day, and then I can talk while you are here. There's somuch I want to tell, and to hear!"

She coughed again, and brushed her hair from her brow, evidentlyfatigued by her own emotion. The dainty finish and grace of herappearance, which had been the greatest charm in Miles' eyes long ago, was accentuated by her illness into a fragility which made her seem morelike a spirit than a flesh-and-blood woman to his unaccustomed eyes. His thoughts raced back for a moment to the scene of his Mexican home, and he realised the folly of the dream which had for so long made thehalf-conscious background of his thoughts. Even if she were willing, even if she loved him, as he loved and would always love her, it wouldbe a madman who could dream of transplanting this fragile flower tothose rude surroundings. Cynthia was not for him! Their lives, for thepresent at least, lay far apart. As for the future, that was in God'shands; it would be selfish and cowardly to try to ensure it for himself. Miles' heart was wrung with the agony of renunciation, but his set faceshowed no signs of his suffering. He cheered Cynthia with renewedpromises of daily visits, chatted with her of old friends and old times, and had the reward of hearing her laugh with the old merry ring. Whenhe took her hand in farewell, she looked at him with frank eyes, andsaid sweetly--

"I'm sorry I grumbled--it was wrong of me when I'm so well off. I dotry to be good, but I was always impatient--you used to laugh when Isaid so, but it was true. This illness may be just what I need--`Theyalso serve, who only stand and wait'--I think so often of that line, andtry to wait in patience, but it is hard--the hardest thing in the world, sometimes!"

"Yes, " said Miles quietly, "the very hardest?"

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. 

EXPLANATIONS. 

It was a very happy week. The weather was all that could be desired fora seaside holiday, --bright yet not glaring, warm but not hot. The hotelwas everything that was luxurious and comfortable, and, last and best ofall, Cynthia kept bright and happy, and was better--not worse--for thevisits of her old friends. 

Every morning Betty accompanied Miles up to the villa, leaving MrGerard and Jill busy playing tennis, roving about on the shore, orengaged in that other engrossing occupation of throwing stones. For thefirst day or two she made excuses, and strolled away to join MrsAlliot, but it soon became apparent to her quick senses that neitherthat lady nor, strangely enough, Miles himself encouraged these well-meant excursions. So for the rest of the time she sat in the shelter byCynthia's couch, and joined frankly in the conversation. SometimesMiles would be silent for almost the whole morning, listening while thetwo friends talked together as girls will--a pretty, innocent, sweet-hearted chatter of home and friends and books and dresses, and "Do youremember, " and "Oh, just suppose, " which unconsciously revealed thecharacter of both. 

Absorbed as he was in Cynthia and all that belonged to her, Miles wasmore than once arrested by Betty herself, and asked himself if it couldbe true or only imagination that she had gained immensely in beauty, softness, and general charm since his return five weeks ago. There wasan expression on her face in these last days which transfigured the oldBetty into something a hundred times sweeter and more attractive. Happiness enveloped her as an atmosphere, --an almost tremuloushappiness, as of one fearful of her own joy. Miles felt assured thatCynthia noticed this new development as he did himself, as he saw thegrey eyes rest on her friend's face with a tender wistfulness of gaze, and heard the fluttering sigh with which she turned aside. 

Never again had Cynthia breathed a word of complaint for her ownlimitations. After that first involuntary outburst she had carefullysteered clear of the subject of self, and thrown herself heart and soulinto her companion's interest. It was only when the last day of theshort visit had been reached that she alluded to her own plans. 

"We are ordered to leave Franton. It is very hot and oppressive in Julyand August, and the doctors want us to go to some high mountain resortin Switzerland. We shall move on by easy stages as soon as possible--possibly next week. It is quite uncertain what we shall do for theautumn and winter; we may possibly move on to the Engadine. In any caseI'm afraid it is unlikely that we shall return to England. Will therebe any chance of seeing you when we return in spring, Miles?"

And then Betty received a shock, for Miles replied quietly--

"I shall be back in Mexico long before then. I don't think I shall takemore than three months' holiday this time. One gets tired of loafingafter a busy life. I shall want to get back to work. "

"Miles, how can you!" cried his sister shrilly. "Three months! Inanother seven weeks--it's impossible! We have hardly had time torealise that you are home. We made sure that you would be with us tillafter Christmas at least. Three months' holiday after all these years!Oh, Miles, you can't mean it!"

"I came home to see you all, Betty, and to satisfy myself that you werewell; when that's done there's no more excuse for lazying. I amentitled to a year's rest, if I like to take it; but if I go back now Ishall be nine months nearer my next visit; and if the mine does all thatwe expect, I shall be back sooner than you imagine. Three years--eventwo--may see me home again, and then--things may be changed--it may beeasier to stay--!"

He kept his eyes lowered as he spoke, but Betty understood. PerhapsCynthia did too, for her pale cheeks flushed, and she made not a word ofcomment. 

When Miles rose a few minutes later, she said "Good-bye" to him inexactly the same words which she had used six years before--

"Good-bye, Miles. I won't forget!"

And Miles crushed her little hands in his, and walked silently away. 

At the gate Mrs Alliot was awaiting him, as on the morning of his firstvisit. She looked wistfully at the stern, white face, then laid herhand on his arm, and said in a tremulous voice--

"Mr Trevor--I--I want to thank you! You have been very brave and kind. Don't think I have not understood--mothers always understand--but forCynthia's sake I was obliged to be selfish. It might have undone allshe has gained, to have had any great excitement or agitation. She isvery young yet--only twenty-two--and she looks upon you as a friend ofher school-days. It was better for every reason that your relationsshould remain unchanged. "

Then Miles faced her, a tall imposing figure drawn to his full height, with shoulders squared and flashing eyes. 

"For the present, yes! I have respected your wishes, and put my ownhopes on one side. Now I am going back to work like ten men rather thanone. If things go as we expect--as we have a right to expect--in a fewyears' time I shall be able to live where I please, to choose my homewhere it best suits myself--and others. If I live, Mrs Alliot, I shallbe home again in a few years' time, and then I warn you that nothing andnobody shall keep me apart from Cynthia if she will be my wife. If shehas recovered--well! If she is ill--I will take care of her! I haveserved for her six years already. I will serve six more if needs be, but I shall claim her in the end!"

"And if it is God's will that she lives and loves you, I will give herto you gladly. You are a good man, Miles. God bless you! All good gowith you!" said Mrs Alliot warmly. 

Then they shook hands and parted. For how long? It was impossible tosay. Before Miles lay the far country, danger by land and sea, a hard, adventurous life; before Cynthia years of what at the best must be aslow, difficult convalescence, with the ever-present danger of a relapseinto her old condition. Only God knew, Who holds the issue of time. Their greatest stronghold lay in their confidence in Him. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

That evening Betty sat beside Will Gerard on the sloping beach, andwatched the sun set in a silence tinged with melancholy. Miles'announcement of a speedy return to America had planted a dart in herheart which was not solely on his own account; for if he went, would nothis partner go too, leaving her to a life of such blank emptiness as wasterrifying to contemplate? All day long the thought had haunted her;she had longed yet dreaded to speak on the subject, and now that eveningwas here, she felt it impossible to face the long hours of the nightwithout some certain knowledge. 

A few minutes before, Miles had taken Jill for a walk along the sands;in a short time they would return, and the opportunity for quietconversation would be over. Betty turned slowly, to meet hercompanion's deep-set eyes fixed intently on her face. He had falleninto a habit of watching her in this earnest manner, and was often ableto divine her thoughts even before she spoke. 

"What is it?" he asked gently. "Something is troubling you. Won't youtell me what it is?"

"It's Miles! He said this morning that he intended to take only threemonths' holiday--that means to leave England in six or seven weeks fromnow. I can't believe it. We counted on six months or more, --possiblyeven a year. Do you think he seriously means to go?"

"I am sure he does, and I think he is right. If you want to be reallykind, Miss Trevor, you won't ask him to stay. "

Betty's lips trembled. 

"Oh, perhaps not, but it is hardest of all to feel that he _wants_ togo; that with all our love and care we are so much outside his life thatwe can't make him happy or satisfied. Poor mother! It must be dreadfulto bring up a child all those years, and to long and long for hisreturn, and then see him in a hurry to rush away again, just because--oh, I know that you know the real reason--because of a girl of whom, after all, he has seen very little! It's very hard!"

"Yes, it is hard--but it is the natural course of events, and I am sureMrs Trevor realises that Miles is one of the best sons that it ispossible for a woman to have. He doesn't love you any the less becausehe feels the need of getting back to his work. A man must work if hehas any trouble weighing upon him; it is the only safe way of lettingoff steam. Fortunately there is plenty for him to do, and the chancesare good for a speedy return. "

He paused, and Betty turned her head aside, and gazed over the darkeningsea. 

"And--you?" she asked softly. "Will you go too?"

"That depends. "

"On business?"

"Partly. If things go on as well as they have started, the company willbe floated in another month, and I shall be of more use at the other endthan here. I have made no plans, however. There are otherconsiderations which come even before business. "

He paused again, as if waiting to be questioned, but Betty did notspeak. The gentle break of the water was the only sound which broke thesilence. Afar off she could just distinguish the dark, retreatingfigures of Miles and Jill. She stared at them, at the sea, the sky, anywhere except at that pale, eager face which was watching her sointently. 

"Betty, " breathed a low voice by her side, "you know what I mean! Youknow that my going or staying depends upon yourself--that the happinessof my life is in your hands! Are you going to be kind to me, Betty?Will you let me love you?"

She drew herself away from him with a cry of protest, almost startlingin its suddenness. 

"Oh no, no! I cannot--I must not listen! It is quite impossible. Please don't say any more. I cannot listen to you!"

"But, Betty, "--he put out his hand and took forcible possession of thelittle cold fingers--"I must speak. We must have this out, and behonest with each other. Dear!--don't think me presumptuous, but latelyI have fancied that you did care a little bit for me, and were notperfectly indifferent whether I came or stayed. Was I quite mistaken?Can you look me in the eyes, Betty, and say that I am no more to youthan any other man?"

Betty did not attempt to meet his eyes, and her disclaimer wastransparently artificial. 

"Oh, of course you are Miles' friend, naturally it is different--but Ican't be engaged to anybody. It's impossible. Please, please believethat I know what I say!"

"Not unless you tell me the reason why it is impossible. Is theresomeone else, Betty? Someone whom you love better than me?"

"No--yes! I don't know if I love him, but I have always felt as if Ibelonged to him, and must wait till he came back. You would think memad if you knew the whole story. I sometimes think I am mad myself, butI feel as if I should be betraying a trust if I married another man. "

Will Gerard sat very still for a moment. Then: "Tell me about it!" hesaid hoarsely. "Tell me! I ought to know. Perhaps I shallunderstand. "

"I don't understand myself, " said Betty sadly. "I have tried not tocare for you, but I do care in spite of trying. When I thought of yougoing away, my heart stood still, but the other thing has gone on solong; it has been part of my life, and even for your sake I can't forgetit. If I could be sure that he was well and happy, and had foundsomeone else to love him, then to be your wife would be the greatesthappiness in the world; but until I hear, I feel--_bound_! We only metonce. That sounds mad enough, doesn't it? And I know nothing of himbut his Christian name. It was an evening more than six years ago; wehad been at a concert at the Albert Hall, and when we came out there wasa black fog, and I lost Miles, and met this man, who brought me homeinstead. He was in great trouble--I found it out from something hesaid--in such terrible trouble that he had lost all hope, and made uphis mind to commit suicide. That was the first time that I had everbeen brought face to face with real trouble, and it changed my wholelife. Think of it! I was coming back to my happy home from anafternoon's pleasure, and he--was going to the river. .. "

Will Gerard had been sitting listening to her with his head buried inhis hands, but at the sound of that last word he raised his face, andturned towards her with a sudden, passionate gesture. 

"And you came to him like a good angel in the midst of the darkness--came to him without a face or a name, --just as a girl's sweet voicebidding him take courage, and sending him out to a fresh battle! Andall these years you have treasured him in your faithful heart, andwaited for his return; and he has waited too, Betty, and worked hard--worked for you with the thought of you before him! And now that he canrepay his debts and look the world in the face once more, he comes toyou for his reward. Betty, Betty, a man may have more names than one--is my face quite strange to you? Have you never seen it before--in ahalf light like this, lit by a flickering flame? Betty, _look_! Whatdo you see?"

She gave a little gasp of incredulity--rapture--relief, and held out herhands towards him. 

"Ralph, Ralph! It is you--you have come home!"

So the long dream was fulfilled, and the fairy prince threw off hisdisguise, and showed himself in the shape of the struggler who hadbravely redeemed a past offence. In loving one, she could love both. Past and present united in bestowing a perfect happiness. Betty heldRalph's hands in her own, and looked deep into his eyes. 

THE END.