gure looked like something uncanny
against the black oak balustrades, half in light, half in shadow."

"How nice!" exclaimed Violet.

"But, my dear Violet, what can have induced you to come downstairs at
such an hour?" ejaculated Mrs. Tempest in an aggrieved voice.

"I want to hear all about the party, mamma," answered Vixen coaxingly.
"Do you think I could sleep a wink on the night of Rorie's coming of
age? I heard the joy-bells ringing in my ears all night."

"That was very ridiculous." said Mrs. Tempest, "for there were no
joy-bells after eleven o'clock yesterday."

"But they rang all the same, mamma. It was no use burying my head in
the pillows; those bells only rang the louder. Ding-dong, ding-dong,
dell, Rorie's come of age; ding-dong, dell, Rorie's twenty-one. Then I
thought of the speeches that would be made, and I fancied I could hear
Rorie speaking. Did he make a good speech, papa?"

"Capital, Vix; the only one that was worth hearing!"

"I am so glad! And did he look handsome while he was speaking? I think
the Swiss sunshine has rather over-cooked him, you know; but he is not
unbecomingly brown."

"He looked as handsome a young fellow as you need wish to set eyes on."

"My dear Edward," remonstrated Mrs. Tempest, languidly, too thoroughly
contented with herself to be seriously vexed about anything, "do you
think it is quite wise of you to encourage Violet in that kind of talk?"

"Why should she not talk of him? She never had a brother, and he stands
in the place of one to her. Isn't Rorie the same to you as an elder
brother, Vix?"

The girl's head was on her father's shoulder, one slim arm round his
neck, her face hidden against the Squire's coat-collar. He could not
see the deep warm flush that dyed his daughter's cheek at this home
question.

"I don't quite know what an elder brother would be like, papa. But I'm
very fond of Rorie--when he's nice, and comes to see us before anyone
else, as he did to-day."

"And when he stays away?"

"Oh, then I hate him awfully," exclaimed Vixen, with such energy that
the slender figure trembled faintly as she spoke. "But tell me all
about the party, mamma. Your dress was quite the prettiest, I am sure?"

"I'm not certain of that, Violet," answered Mrs. Tempest with grave
deliberation, as if the question were far too serious to be answered
lightly. "There was a cream-coloured silk, with silver bullion fringe,
that was very striking. As a rule, I detest gold