y feet skimmed the ground, her tiny head reared itself jauntily
on the slender neck, the brilliance of her smile, the embracing
kindliness of her glance more than compensated for the plainness of her
features. Like most people who made the acquaintance of Pixie
O'Shaughnessy, Stephen Glynn was already beginning to fall under her
spell and marvel at the blindness of his first impression. She was
_not_ plain; she was _not_ insignificant; she was, on the contrary,
unusually fascinating and attractive!

"But she does not love him," Stephen repeated to himself. "She does not
know what love means. When she does--when she has grown into a woman,
and understands--what a wife, what a companion she will make!"

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

THINKING ALIKE.

Pixie's prophecy that her relatives would "crow" on hearing Mr Glynn's
ultimatum, was fulfilled in spirit, if not in letter.

Geoffrey and Joan Hilliard assumed their most staid and dignified airs
for the important interview, referred to "my sister Patricia" with a
deference worthy of a royal princess, and would have Stanor's guardian
to understand that the man was not born who was worthy to be her spouse;
all the same, as mortal young men went, they had nothing to say against
Stanor Vaughan, and if time proved him to be in earnest, both in love
and work, they would be graciously pleased to welcome him into the
family. Then, the business part of the interview being ended, the
ambassador was invited to stay to lunch, and Esmeralda swept from the
room, leaving the two men to a less formal colloquy over their
cigarettes.

"It's a comfort to find that we think alike on this matter," began
Geoffrey, holding out a match for his guest's benefit. "I have felt
rather guilty about it, for Pixie was left too much to herself during
our little fellow's illness. She was in trouble herself, poor little
soul, and, being lonely, was no doubt unduly susceptible to sympathy.
Neither my wife nor I suspected any attachment before the night of the
boy's accident, and if things had gone on in a normal way I doubt if the
engagement would have come off. Pixie is very young; we have hardly
accustomed ourselves to the idea that she is grown-up. This is the
first visit she had paid to us by herself, so that we feel responsible."

"You are uncertain of her feelings? I had the same doubt myself, but
when I said as much Miss O'Shaughnessy was indignant. She insists that
she does love the boy."