um; the latter was
Mrs. Herrick's special instrument. The drawing-room wore its usual
aspect on these occasions; rows of chairs and cushioned benches
occupied the entire floor space, and overflowed into the inner
apartment.

A crimson covered dais or platform, decorated with plants in full
bloom, and tall spreading palms, with a semicircle of comfortable
easy-chairs, was the chief feature in the arrangements; and here, with
the evening sunshine streaming on her, stood a tall slim girl in a
white dress, with a loose cluster of Shirley poppies in her hand.

It made such a pretty picture that Malcolm stood quite spell-bound: the
crimson dais was such a rich background to the soft creamy white of the
girl's dress, while the poppies held so carelessly added to the effect;
even the sunshine filtering through the partially drawn curtains gilded
the fair hair until it shone like gold. Malcolm was almost sorry when
Anna caught sight of him, and ran down the steps towards him with a
bright smile of welcome, and two hands outstretched.

"Oh, Malcolm, I never thought you would be here yet," she said, and her
voice was very soft and clear; "but I am so glad to see you, and I have
quite finished."

Anna Sheldon was not a pretty girl, but people always said she was so
interesting. Her figure was well formed and graceful, and her
expression and smile were remarkably sweet; but her features were by no
means faultless, and her want of colour was certainly a defect. She had
beautiful hair, which was fine and fluffy as a baby's; its tint was
rather too colourless, but she wore it in a style that exactly suited
her. At this moment, when her eyes were bright with pleasure and there
was a flush on her face, Anna certainly looked pretty, but such moments
were transient with her.

Malcolm pressed her hands affectionately; then he looked her over with
brotherly freedom.

"You look very nice, dear. I see you are dressed for the evening; are
those poppies part of the toilette?"

Then Anna laughed and fingered her pearl necklace as though she were
embarrassed by his scrutiny. "No, of course not--what an absurd
question. Fancy flowers at a drawing-room meeting. I am going to put
them in a vase directly. Now, as mother is engaged just now, I am going
to take you to the schoolroom, and nurse will give us something to eat."

"Feminine nectar and ambrosia, I imagine," muttered Malcolm to himself,
for he had partaken frequently of these schoolr