conversation, I thought.

She took no notice of me, and so I was greatly astonished, when she was
bidding us all good-bye shortly after lunch, to see her give a quick nod
at me and say,

'I shall see you shortly. You are coming over to stay with me the end of
next week. Don't bring a lot of evening toggery, for you will not see a
soul except myself.'

Seeing my surprised looks, Mrs. Forsyth said,--

'I have not asked her if she would like to go yet.'

'Oh, she will come fast enough,' responded Miss Rayner sharply. 'She has
been listening quietly and drawing her own conclusions about me during
luncheon, and she thinks I am queer, but that I am different to most
folks. Novelty has a charm for the young. _Au revoir_, Miss Thorn.'

She gave me a little mocking bow, kissed Mrs. Forsyth, waved her hand to
the others, and was gone before I could recover from my surprise at this
sudden announcement.

I turned to Mrs. Forsyth for an explanation, but she merely said,

'Miss Rayner has invited you over to her place for a week or two. Of
course it remains with you whether you would like to go or not. Nelly
has stayed with her once or twice; so she can tell you whether you will
be likely to enjoy yourself there.'

'But she never asked me, mother,' said Nelly. 'I only went there in a
convalescent state after an attack of measles. She must have taken a
wonderful fancy to Hilda to ask her.'

Visions of my Sunday scholars floated before me, and I said
hesitatingly,--

'I don't know that I care about going, Mrs. Forsyth. She is a perfect
stranger to me, and I am quite happy here.'

'I think the change will be good for you,' said Mrs. Forsyth, 'and it has
come at the right time, for I think of taking the two girls up to London
for three weeks. Miss Forsyth, their aunt, has asked us. She extended
the invitation to you; but unless you behave differently there to what
you do with us, I really could not undertake to have the charge of you.
She lays herself out for the pleasure of young people in her house, and
you could hardly accept her hospitality if you refused to take part in
every entertainment that was provided for you.'

'No,' I said quietly, 'I am afraid I should only be a wet blanket if I
went. I will go to Miss Rayner's if you wish, Mrs. Forsyth. Perhaps you
would rather I went to her than stay quietly at home?'

'I certainly should!'

And so the matter was settled. Mrs. Forsyth and the girls left th