se sayings and
doings were so constantly quoted in the schoolroom that her very name
had become the signal for groans of disapproval; the fat white packet
bore the magic name of the _Bon Marche_, Paris, and contained patterns
of material for the frock in which Lilias intended to array herself at
the garden parties of the coming season; and the narrow envelope, with
its bold, even writing, was a familiar object in the Rendell household,
whose authorship required no explanation.

Mrs Rendell handed this letter to her daughter with a smiling
remembrance of the days when such letters used to come to herself--of
her eagerness and delight, her insatiable appetite for more. As she
added up her weekly bills and balanced her accounts, soft little trills
of laughter greeted her ears from the other end of the room, and she
smiled again in enjoyment of her child's happiness, and lifted her head
to regard the pretty picture. The sun shone on Lilias's fair head,
transforming it into an aureole of gold; pink and white were the colours
of her morning dress, pink and white was her face, and the blossom on
the hawthorn tree which shaded the window seemed made on purpose to form
a background to the charming figure. Mrs Rendell's eyes softened with
motherly pride; but the next moment her brows contracted and her
expression grew troubled, for there on the seat lay Ned Talbot's letter
unopened, while Lilias smiled and dimpled in enjoyment of her friend's
effusion. It seemed strange that a girl should show so little eagerness
to read a lover's letter; but Mrs Rendell reflected that perhaps Lilias
preferred to leave the greater treat to the last, and comforted herself
thereby. When Ella's letter had been read, then of course Ned's would
be even more eagerly devoured; but no! Lilias regretfully folded away
the sheet in its envelope, regarded the two unopened envelopes with
languid indecision, and finally selected the packet from Paris as more
worthy of attention. If she had looked up at that _moment_ and caught
the flash in the watching eyes, Miss Lilias would have been on her
guard; but, as it was, she complacently settled herself to the study of
patterns, holding up the little squares of gauze to the light, laying
them against her dress, and pleating them in her fingers with an
absorption which rendered her unconscious of her surroundings. Five
minutes passed, ten minutes, and still she turned from one novelty to
another, unable to ma