he was away,
regularly. She's tremendous friends with his sisters, and they asked her
to join them on this tour. Looks suspicious, doesn't it?"

"Rather! I hope it will really come off," answered Peachy, looking
sympathetically at the attractive pair whose chairs always seemed to
gravitate together. "She's pretty! And his brown eyes are the twinkliest
I've ever seen! Yes! I'm prepared to give them my blessing! I only wish
he'd get on with it. Why doesn't somebody give him a push over the brink
and make him propose? He's marking time, and for two cents I'd tell him
so myself. I guess his eyes would pop out, but I shouldn't care! Don't
be alarmed! I promise I won't interfere. But onlookers see the most of
the game, and with an affair like this under my very nose I'll be mad if
they don't fix-it up."

Captain Preston was hardly likely to conduct his love-making under full
fire of inquisitive eyes, but he generally managed to appropriate
Marjorie on walks or excursions; they strolled out together to admire
the moon, hunted for orchids on the hills, searched the beach for
shells, and saw enough of one another's society to satisfy the most
ardent matchmakers. It was an established fact that these two should
always sit together in boat or carriage, but the rest of the party
revolved like a kaleidoscope. Lorna sometimes found herself escorted by
Stewart or Angus, sometimes by Charlie or Michael Foard, the friends who
were staying with them, and oftener still by Vincent Beverley, whose
fair hair, blue eyes, and merry face--so like Irene's--specially
attracted her. She was so unaccustomed to have a cavalier at all that it
seemed wonderful to her that any one should take the trouble to carry
her basket, pick flowers that grew out of her reach, help her up
difficult steps or hand her into a rocking boat. This new aspect of the
world was very sweet. Insensibly it affected her.

"Lorna's growing so pretty," commented Peachy to Irene. "She's a queer
girl. At school she goes about looking almost plain and as dreary as an
owl. She's suddenly jumped into life here. Anybody who hadn't seen the
two sides of her wouldn't believe the difference. When she's animated
she's nearly beautiful."

"I don't think she's ever been really appreciated at the Villa
Camellia," replied Irene. "Mums likes her immensely. She says there's so
much in her, and that she only wants 'mothering' to bring her out. As
for Vin, his head's turned. He's made me vow