of you to think of it, and
if Mrs Rendell will really allow me, I shall be delighted to accept
your invitation."

So Nan ran across the street, and entered the house with the great news
that Gervase Vanburgh had arrived, and--given a formal invitation--was
coming that very evening to make the acquaintance of the family.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

AMONG THE ROSES.

By no one was the news of Gervase Vanburgh's advent greeted with more
enthusiasm than by Lilias herself, for, truth to tell, the day had
seemed interminably long in the company of a depressed and anxious
lover. The points of view from which Ned and herself regarded his
position seemed to grow more hopelessly far apart the more it was
discussed, and the consciousness that he was disappointed by her lack of
sympathy did not tend to raise Lilias's spirits. If the question at
stake had not touched the all-important subject of future comfort, she
would have been willing to sacrifice her own wishes in order to preserve
Ned's approval, but in this crisis of their fate she would allow no such
weakness. If her own parents seemed to place Ned's scruples before her
interests, if Ned himself were so ignorant of what was due to his
_fiancee_ as to talk calmly of accepting the position of a clerk on a
few hundreds a year, it behoved her to be firm, and make Ned understand
that she would never be his wife until he could provide something more
than the bare necessaries of life. Nevertheless, the task of opposition
was far from pleasant, and the grave wonder of his glance cut like a
knife into her vain little heart.

It was a relief to know that the presence of a stranger would prevent
further reference to the subject for this evening at least, while the
Vanburgh nephew and heir was in himself a sufficiently interesting
person. Lilias put on her prettiest dress, and sat trifling with a book
until the company had assembled in the drawing-room, and the time was
ripe for an effective entrance, when she glided into the room, and
smiled sweetly at the stranger, while Nan watched his face with
mischievous enjoyment. He was surprised--there was no mistake about
that! When Lilias raised her face to his, he gave a distinct little
start of surprise, and the sleepy eyes looked for once quite wide-awake
and animated.

"And the stupid fellow actually mistook me for her!" chuckled Nan to
herself, with that pride in her sister's beauty which the Rendell girls
shared so loyally, loo