ssed? Ten thousand times, no! On the
contrary, she had been quick to ward off blows, to turn dangerous
conversations into new channels, to stand between the sufferer and the
world. Where she loved it was obvious that she could show both care and
tact; it was want of love which lay at the root of her thoughtless acts
and speeches. Gervase looked up at the conclusion of his story, to find
the girl staring blankly across the room, with a glimmer of tears in the
brown eyes, and was at a loss to guess the meaning.

"I'll begin this instant, and love every one in this world!" Nan was
saying to herself determinedly. "It will be fatiguing, but so good for
my character. I'll think of what they will like, and what I can do for
them, and spend my time in good works. What can I do now for these two
men? It's no credit pouring out tea, for I want some myself; but I
might do something for that poor Gervase to-night, when Mr Vanburgh
goes to bed, and he is left alone. He looked dolefully dull when I came
in, and I believe he would enjoy coming across and seeing us all, as he
has heard so much about us. I'll ask him anyway, and see what he says."

The idea was so pleasant that the dimples came back to greet it; she
looked across at Gervase with a brilliant smile, and struck amazement to
his heart by inquiring blandly--

"Would you like to come to dinner with us tonight?"

Gervase Vanburgh stared, as well he might, at so informal an invitation.
His uncle also struggled with a smile, and Nan, tardily conscious of
her lack of formality, plunged headlong into explanations--

"I meant to say that it will be lonely for you after Mr Vanburgh goes
to bed, and I am sure mother would be delighted to see you. We have Ned
Talbot, a friend of Lil--of my brother Jim staying with us, so that
there would be two other men to keep you company. When father and Jim
are away, we never ask gentlemen to the house, for mother says seven
women at one time are too great a tax on any man's nervous system; but
you wouldn't be afraid of us when there were two other men, would you?
The schoolroom girls don't come down until after dinner, so we are
really only three."

Gervase Vanburgh laughed aloud, and Nan looked up with a quick flash of
approval, for a laugh has a tell-tale sound, and this one rang
unmistakably honest and true.

"I am not in the least afraid," he cried boldly. "I'd like to see you
all, school-girls included. It is most kind