er; she resolved, therefore, at some
personal sacrifice, to prolong her visit at the Grange for a few days.
No events less absorbing would have made her forget the ring. The
exciting events of Thursday had, however, put it completely out of her
head. On Friday, it is true, she did think of it, but Annie was not
present at the time, and she now resolved not to trouble herself to have
the ring copied, but to buy another present for her ex-pupil.

Annie knew nothing of this intention, but delay had made her bold, and,
as usual, she had great faith in her own good luck.

On Saturday morning Sir John contributed vastly to the excitement and
interest of the party by a certain piece of news which he read aloud to
them from a letter he had just received from Mrs. Bernard Temple.

"My dear Hester," he said, looking down the length of the table at his
daughter, "did not you once tell me that you had a schoolfellow at
Lavender House of the name of Susan Drummond?"

"Sleepy Susy," exclaimed Hester with a smile. "I had almost forgotten
her, although she managed to worry me a good deal at school. She was my
room-mate for the first couple of terms. Oh, dear, oh, dear, shall I
ever forget the trouble we used to have to wake her?"

"She left Lavender House a good many years ago; what of her?" exclaimed
Mrs. Willis; "the fact is, I have quite lost sight of her."

"And so have I," said Hester; "frankly, I did not care about remembering
her."

"Well, whether you like it or not, you are likely to hear a good deal
more of her now," said Sir John, "for Susan's father is the new owner of
the Towers, and Mrs. Bernard Temple wants to know if she may bring Susan
as well as Antonia to-day, as Susan is naturally most anxious to see her
new home. Have we a vacant bedroom, Hester?"

"Oh, yes," replied Hester, "but it seems----"

"What, my dear?"

"Nothing, father--only--but----"

"But me no buts," replied Sir John in a tone of irritation. "Nothing can
be more natural than a young girl's wish to see her future home. I shall
telegraph to Mrs. Bernard Temple to let her know that we shall be
pleased to give Miss Drummond a hearty welcome."

Sir John rose from his chair as he spoke, and a moment later left the
room.

"Poor Nora," exclaimed Hester, when the door had closed behind him.
"Susy is certain to say something to hurt her dreadfully, for unless she
has tremendously altered, I never saw a creature with less tact."

"We must hope for