e the assembled sisters looked on with solemn eyes.
Dainty Lilias, pensive Elsie, kindly Agatha, Christabel the immaculate,
they stood gazing in a solid phalanx of disapproval, while Nan the
culprit hung her head and flushed with embarrassment. A moment later
Mrs Rendell had turned the conversation into another channel, unwilling
to prolong the present discussion in the presence of a stranger, and Nan
seized the opportunity to escape to the far end of the garden. Gervase
Vanburgh stood in her path, and spied the glimmer of tears on the dark
eyelashes as she passed by. Then she disappeared, and Elsie's chin
dropped with amazement as she saw the elegant stranger deliberately mark
a stone on the path, and kick it savagely with the toe of his patent
leather shoe.

"Bland of exterior, but concealing beneath the surface secret and
violent impulses!" Such was the character given to Gervase Vanburgh in
Miss Elsie Rendell's diary that evening; and perhaps for once the
youthful author was not far wrong in her conclusions!

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

A VOW OF FRIENDSHIP.

The next morning at ten o'clock the Italian servant was entrusted with a
message from his master which created a wild excitement in the Rendell
family. Mr Vanburgh was restored to his usual health, and wished to
celebrate that fact, and provide at the same time a little entertainment
for his nephew, by giving an _alfresco_ luncheon in the garden, to which
he invited his friends at Thurston House. The meal would be served
under the beech-tree on the lawn, and Mr Vanburgh hoped to welcome his
guests at one o'clock precisely.

"But not all of us! There are six of us--six women--not to mention Mr
Talbot. Mr Vanburgh cannot mean to include the school-room party! The
elder ones will be delighted to accept, but--"

"_Mother_!" gasped Christabel. Agatha laid hold of the back of a couch,
and prepared to faint on the spot, and the Italian looked from one to
the other, a gleam of amusement showing in the dusky eyes.

"My master would be much disappointed, madam. He wishes especially the
young signorinas. I am to bear an invitation also to Mrs Maitland and
to Miss Kitty."

That settled the matter! If Kitty were going, it would be nothing short
of cruelty to keep her companions at home, so Mrs Rendell sent a
general acceptance to the invitation, and shrugged her shoulders
resignedly as each of the five girls hugged her in turns, and deafened
her with ques