ple kissed Hester
on her forehead, called her "dear child," and looked into her eyes in a
way which made Hester long to shut them, patted Nan on her shoulder and
hoped she was a good, obliging little girl, and then, followed by
Antonia and Susy, who dropped a succession of wraps the whole way,
entered one of the drawing rooms.

"My dear John, what a perfectly _charming_ room," exclaimed Mrs. Bernard
Temple, turning to her future husband and glancing down the long room
with a critical eye. "Furniture just a _little_ out of date--not enough
Chippendale--old-fashioned, but not antique--we'll soon put that right,
however. Antonia has a wonderful eye for colour. You see, she has been
trained in an atelier in Paris."

The faintest perceptible frown might have been seen between Sir John's
eyebrows. He took no special notice of Mrs. Bernard Temple's remark, but
walking up the long and exquisitely proportioned room flung open some
French windows which led into a flower garden, gay with every imaginable
flower. There was a distant and very lovely view from this window.

"I think you will admire the landscape from this window," he said,
turning and speaking with an air of great deference to his distinguished
guest.

"In one moment, my love," she replied. "Antonia, what do you think of
old gold curtains, and one of those dark olive-green papers for the
walls? This light decoration is absolutely inadmissible."

"Old gold is quite out of date," replied Antonia, opening her lips for
the first time. "I'm sick of old gold, it's not _chic_ now. I'll look
through some of my antique designs and sketch my idea of a drawing-room
for you presently, mother; now pray attend to Sir John."

Mrs. Bernard Temple favoured her daughter with a glance which was
returned in a very frank and determined manner by that young lady. She
then sailed slowly up the room and condescended to admire the view
pointed out by Sir John.

Hester was standing near one of the windows talking to Susy, who had
already sunk into an easy chair, and was fanning herself with an
enormous black fan which hung at her girdle. Antonia, after a moment's
hesitation, came up to Hester.

"I'm very sorry we have come," she said, "but it really is not my fault.
Mother is in a state of flutter at having caught Sir John. I'm disgusted
about it all. I don't want a stepfather any more than you want a
stepmother. I'm to be turned into a fine lady now, and I hate being a
fine lady. I