any objection to our going _en masse_. Eh, Graeme?"

"It is not a party, only a few friends," said Rose, eagerly.

"Certainly, we'll all go," said Arthur. "If they had not wanted us all,
they would not have asked us. Of course, we'll all go for once."

"But, Graeme," said Harry, coming back after he had left to go away,
"don't let the idea of `a few friends' delude you. Make yourselves as
fine as possible. There will be a great crowd, you may be sure. Miss
Elphinstone and Mr Ruthven are invited, and they are not among the
intimate friends of such people as the Groves. Shall I send you home a
fashion book, Rosie?"

"Or write a note to Mrs Gridley," said Arthur.

Rose laughed. She was pleasantly excited at the prospect of her first
large party, there was no denying it. Indeed, she did not seek to deny
it, but talked merrily on, not seeing, or not seeming to see, the
doubtful look on Graeme's face. She alone, had not spoken during the
discussion. She had not quite decided whether this invitation was so
delightful as Rosie thought, and in a little when her sister had left
the room, she said--

"Shall I accept the invitation then for Rose and me?"

"Have you not accepted yet? you need not of course, unless you wish.
But I think you will enjoy it, and Rosie, too."

"Yes, but I am by no means sure, that I like Mrs Grove," said she,
hesitating.

"Are you not?" said her brother, laughing. "Well, I have got much
farther than you. I am sure that I don't like her at all. But, what of
that?"

"Only that I don't fancy accepting kindness, from a person I don't like,
and to whom I don't think it would be pleasant to repay in kind."

"Oh! nonsense. The obligation is mutual. Her kindness will be quite
repaid, by having a new face in her splendid rooms. And as for repaying
her in kind, as you call it, that is quite out of the question. There
are not a dozen people in town who do the thing on the scale the Groves
attempt. And besides, Rosie would be disappointed."

Graeme did not believe that it was the best thing that could happen to
Rosie, to be gratified in this matter, but she did not say so.

"After all," thought she, "I daresay there is no harm in it. I shall
not spoil the pleasure of the rest, by not seeming to enjoy it. But I
don't like Mrs Grove."

The last words were emphatically repeated. She did not like her. She
did not wish to see her frequently, or to know her intimately. She
wished