he bridesmaid question there and then with the utmost
confidence.

"Of course you shall be bridesmaid. The wedding will be in the summer
holidays, but you will see your sisters before then. You knew, of
course, that they were trying to let the Castle for a few years, until
Jack makes his fortune, and goes back to live there himself. Well, I am
glad to say a tenant has been found through a lawyer, and that
everything is satisfactorily arranged. He takes possession on the first
of September, and Bridgie is coming to live in London with Jack and the
boys, in a nice little flat, where you can spend your holidays. She
said I was to tell you that, and to say that you were not to fret for
the Castle, for you would see much more of each other than if she had
remained over there. She is coming to town in summer to look for the
flat, and Esmeralda is coming too, to buy fineries for the wedding, and
then we will all return to Ireland and have a quiet little wedding, and
you shall keep Bridgie company when I carry Esmeralda away. That's the
summer programme. I hope you approve!"

"I hate the man who's coming to Knock," said Pixie sadly; "but I am glad
Bridgie will be near, and it will be lovely on holidays. It must feel
strange to live in a flat; like being in a cage. I am sorry for the
people beneath, when the boys get romping round. If I were Bridgie, I'd
take a house, and then we could make as much noise as we liked. It's no
use pretending that we are a quiet family, because we're not. You might
think it was an army, to hear us tramp downstairs!"

"I--I think myself that a house would be more suitable!" said Hilliard,
smiling his humorous twisted smile; then he asked to see Mademoiselle,
and when he said to her in her turn that he had a piece of news to
impart, she nodded her head gaily, and cried, "So, so! I 'ope you will
be very 'appy!" and could not be induced to say that she was in the
least surprised. Pixie hoped that none of the girls would ask about the
new brother's business; for, after boasting of possible dukes, it was
really rather humiliating to come down to glue! What a comfort that
Lottie had turned over a new leaf, and abandoned her snobbish,
inquisitive questionings!

After that it was a case of counting the days until the arrival of the
sisters, and Pixie's companions were almost as excited as herself at the
prospect of seeing the much-talked-of Bridgie and Esmeralda in the
flesh. Miss Joan