s he courted her, as she sat smiling at the head of the table in
her velvet gown. And Sir Harry, too, was quite charmed with the soft,
comely creature.

Later on, while the two elder gentlemen were chatting confidentially
over their cigars and whisky-and-water, she did manage to write a few
lines to Nan. But it was not much of a letter; for how was she to
construct a decent sentence with that torment Dick hanging over the
back of her chair and interrupting her every moment? But Nan was not
ill pleased by the missive when she received it.

* * * * *

"My own dear girl," it said,--"my dearest girl,--for no daughter could
ever be so dear to me as you will be, Nan, for my boy's sake, and
because he loves you so." ("You are right there, mother!" struck in
Dick, in a tone of ecstasy.) "Everything has come right, through Sir
Henry's intercession and my Richard's goodness." ("Humph!" coughed
Dick. "Well, it is not for the like of me to contradict you.")

"You are to come to us--at once--at once,"--underlined,--"for Dick
will be going back to Oxford, so there is no time to lose; and you
have not got any good of your engagement yet." ("Only just at that
last moment," muttered her son at this.)

"My precious boy looks so happy that I could cry with joy to see him."
("Oh, shut up, mother! Nan knows all that.") "And his dear father
looks as pleased as possible, and he sends his love." ("He did indeed,
Dick," as an incredulous sound broke from his lips), "and he says
bygones are bygones. And you are on no account to feel yourself
awkward as regards him, for of course Dick's _fiancee_" ("Are you sure
that is spelt right, Dick?") "will bring her own welcome. Is not that
a sweet speech for my Richard to say? So you will come, my dear, will
you not? And I remain, just what I always was, my Nan's loving
friend,

"Bessie Mayne."

* * * * *

And then the letter was carefully consigned to Dick's pocket, and in
due course of time was delivered into Nan's fair hands.

CHAPTER XLV.

AN UNINVITED GUEST.

During the next few days Grace and Phillis made great strides towards
intimacy; and, as though some magnetic influence attracted each to
each, they were to be found constantly together. Neither of them was a
girl to indulge in gushing sentimentality; but Grace, whose refined
intellectual