urgent business. Pray, miss--I do not even know your name."

"Franks," replied Edith: "Edith Franks."

"Pray, Miss Franks, do not spread the story of my daughter's engagement
to your brother just for a day or two. Circumstances may alter matters,
and until a girl has been really _led_ to the altar I never consider
this sort of thing final. Ah! whose step is that on the stairs? I
believe it is my Flo's."

Mrs. Aylmer tripped to the door, flung it open, and stood in an
expectant attitude.

The next moment Florence, accompanied by Tom Franks, appeared. Mrs.
Aylmer looked at him, and in a flash said, under her breath: "The future
son-in-law." Then she went up to Florence and kissed her.

"Oh, mother," said Florence, looking by no means elated at this
unexpected appearance of the little Mummy on the scene, "what has
brought you to town?"

"Most important business, dear. I must see you immediately in your room.
I assure you nothing would induce me to spend the money I did were it
not absolutely necessary that I should see you at once. This gentleman,
you must tell him to go, Florence; I have not a single moment to waste
over him now."

"Let me introduce Mr. Franks to you, mother. Tom, this is my mother. You
know, mother, that I am engaged to Mr. Franks."

"I know nothing of the kind," replied Mrs. Aylmer angrily.

Florence smiled.

"But I wrote to you, mother; I told you everything."

"Perhaps so, dear, but I didn't receive the letter. I cannot acknowledge
the engagement just now. I am very much agitated. Mr. Franks, you will,
I hope, excuse me. Of course I know the feelings of all young men under
such circumstances, and I wish to do nothing rude or in any way
impolite, but just now I _must_ see my daughter alone."

"You had better go, Tom," said Florence. She took the key of her room
out of her pocket, opened the door, and ushered her mother in.

"Now, mother," she said. "Oh, dear, the fire is out." She walked to the
hearth, stooped down, and began to light the fire afresh. Mrs. Aylmer
sat near the window.

"Now, mother," said Florence, just looking round her, "what have you
come about?"

"I thought you would give me a welcome," said Mrs. Aylmer the less; "you
used to be an affectionate girl."

"Oh, used!" said Florence. "But people change as they grow older.
Sometimes I think I have not any heart."

"But you have engaged yourself to that man. I presume you love him."

"No, I don't love him at all."