Will
Dudley and Rachel Greaves talked about together, but I was anxious to
find out if she had said anything to show him that I was really grown-
up, instead of the child he thought me; so the next time we met I asked
her plump and plain--

"What did you and Mr Dudley say about me the other morning?"

We were walking along a lane together, and she turned her head and
stared at me in blank surprise.

"About you? The other morning? We--we never spoke of you at all!"

Then I suppose I looked angry, or red, or something, for she seemed in a
tremendous hurry to appease me.

"We have a great many interests in common. When we lived in town we
belonged to the same societies, and worked for the same charities. It
is interesting to remember old days, and tell each other the latest news
we have heard about the work and its progress."

"Then you knew him before he came here? He is not a new friend?"

"Oh, no--we have known him for years. It was father who got him his
present position."

"And you like him very much?"

"Yes," she said quietly. "Isn't it lovely to see the hedges covered
with the wild roses? I think they are almost my favourite flower--so
dainty and delicate."

"Nasty, prickly things--I hate them!" I cried; for I do detest being
snubbed, and she could not have told me more plainly in so many words
that she did not choose to speak of Will Dudley. Why not? I wonder.
Was there some mystery about their friendship? I should not mind
talking about anyone I know, and it was really absurd of Rachel to be so
silent and reserved. I determined not to ask her any more questions,
but to tackle Mr Dudley himself.

Two days after there was the garden party, where I knew we should meet.
He was bound to go, as it was on the estate where he was living, and I
was to make my first formal appearance in society, in the prettiest
dress and hat you can possibly imagine. Mother was quite pleased with
me because I let her and Johnson fuss as much as they liked, and tie on
my white veil three times over to get it in the right folds. Then I
looked in the glass at my sweeping skirts, and hair all beautifully done
up, and laughed to think how different I looked from Babs of the morning
hours.

We drove off in state, and I was quite excited at the prospect of the
fray; but I do think garden parties are dreadfully dull affairs! A band
plays on the lawn, and people stroll about, and criticise one another's
dresses, and