ked
her to marry him, would hunt out the sober garments which they had
discarded and wear them when they would hear that she was not going to
marry Mr. Holland.

She rather thought that they would get new dresses and hats of the right
degree of sobriety. Fashions change so quickly between February and May.

And then there was the question of sleeves!

Anyhow they would, she felt, regard themselves as having another chance.
That was how they would put it.

Only for an instant did she become thoughtful. Then she sprang to her
feet from the sofa on which she had thrown herself when her tears were
threatening, and cried:

"Let them have him--let them all have him--all--all!"

That would have been absurd.

CHAPTER VI.

IF A GIRL REALLY LOVES A MAN SHE WILL MARRY HIM, EVEN THOUGH HE SHOULD
WRITE A BOOK.

Phyllis meant the half hour which would elapse before her tea was
brought to her to be a very grateful space. She meant to dwell upon the
achievement of her freedom, for the feeling that she was free was very
sweet to her. The fetters that had bound her had been flung away, and
she now only had a splendid sense of freedom. So sweet was this sense
that she made up her mind that in future it would never do for her to
run any such risk as that to which she had just subjected herself.
How could she ever have been such a fool as to promise to marry George
Holland? That was what she was asking herself as she lay back on the
pillows of the French sofa, and listened to the soft sound of the
carriage wheels of the callers at the other houses in the square.

What a singular wish that was of hers--to become the wife of a
clergyman! It seemed very singular to her just now. Just now she did not
want to become the wife of anyone, and she hoped that no one would ask
her. She did not want the worry of it. Ah, she would be very careful in
the future: she would take very good care that the fact of other girls
wanting to marry one particular man would not make her anxious to have
him all to herself.

Before her resolutions on this very important point had been fully
considered in all their bearings, her maid entered to ask if she was
at home. The butler had sent a footman to her to make that inquiry, the
fact being that her particular friend, Mrs. Linton, had called to see
her.

Phyllis jumped up, saying:

"Of course I am home to Mrs. Linton. She will have tea with me."

She went to a glass to see if the tears which had b