se; but you know her best. A very old friend. Near
here--"

"Don't tell, Jean; don't be in such a hurry. Let them guess," cried
Robert, laughing; but already Vanna was gasping in incredulous tones:

"_Not_ Edith Morton!"

"Yes! Yes!" Jean clapped her hands with her old childlike abandon.
"Isn't it lovely? Aren't you pleased? She came round last night to
tell me. To Mr Mortimer. She has seen a lot of him at their literary
society. He is a clever man; every one speaks highly of him, and he is
rich. It's all as charming as possible, and most suitable."

Mr Mortimer! Vanna knitted her brows, recalling a grave, middle-aged
figure, and striving to imagine him in the new role of Edith Morton's
lover. Edith had sailed for Canada shortly after Jean's marriage to pay
a visit to a married sister, and had returned at the end of two years,
apparently heart-whole; but Vanna knew that her life had been empty of
interest, and feared lest the attraction of a home of her own and a
definite place in the world might have induced her to give her promise
without love.

"Mr Mortimer! He is a fine man; I like him--but for Edith? He seems
so old, so settled down. I never dreamt of his getting engaged."

"Nonsense! He is forty-five and she is thirty-two. Very suitable. A
woman ages more quickly than a man. He will look years younger with a
wife to smarten him up; and they are as much in love as if they were
twenty; beaming, both of them--the picture of happiness. The wedding is
to be almost at once. He says they have waited long enough, and can't
afford to waste another day. I shouldn't wonder if they rushed it
through in six weeks, and took a furnished house till they had time to
look round. Much the best plan."

"Much!" agreed Vanna quietly. Jean's impetuous speech often planted a
dart of which she was the first to repent; but as she would ruefully
confess to Robert, it was so difficult to think of Vanna and Piers as an
engaged couple. They were so much more like a settled-down, married
couple, living on quietly from day to day, taking life as it came,
making no plans. It was only when she saw the shadow fall on the faces
of the two listeners that she realised her mistake. She sprang to her
feet and pulled loudly at the bell.

"We'll have the children! Lorna would never forgive me if I let you go.
Babs looks too sweet in her new frock..."

"Just for a moment. I must be taking Vanna home. It's damp, and