n his
usual genial manner; but after the first few minutes, during which he
had drunk his coffee standing beside her, she did not remember that he
had again addressed her. After that, he had made his way to Grace, and
did not stir for a long time.

Mattie had Colonel Middleton on her hands then; but her eyes would
stray to that part of the room. How pretty Grace looked in that soft
creamy dress, with the dainty lace ruffles that Archie had sent her!
Her face generally wanted color and animation, but to-night she was
quite rosy by comparison. She seemed to find Sir Harry amusing, for
she looked up at him very brightly. And then Archie joined them: he
would not be _de trop_ there, he knew. And the three talked as though
they never meant to leave off.

When Sir Harry came to take his leave, he said, a little abruptly,--

"I like that sister of yours, Miss Mattie. She is sensible for a girl;
and yet she knows how to laugh. Clever girls are generally a little
priggish, do you know? But one need not be afraid of Miss Grace." And
Mattie knew that from Sir Harry this was high praise.

"Every one likes Grace," she faltered.

"I am not surprised at that," was the ready response; and then he
shook hands and thanked her for the pleasant evening. He did not even
look at her as he spoke, Mattie remembered afterwards: he was watching
Nan, who was smiling on Dick's arm.

The young vicar stood bare-headed on the snowy door-step, as his
guests merrily trooped out together. Dick and Nan came first: Nan had
a scarlet hood over her bright hair, and Dick was grumbling over the
lightness of her cloak, and was wrapping his gray overcoat round her.

"Nonsense, Nan! I insist upon it! and you know nothing gives me cold!"
Dick was saying, in his authoritative way; and then of course Nan
yielded.

"'Oh, wert thou in the cauld blast,'" sang Phillis, mockingly, who was
following them under Captain Middleton's escort. "Don't you think
engaged people are sometimes very masterful?" She spoke, of course, to
her companion; but he had turned to warn his father and Dulce of an
awkward step, and Archie intercepted the sentence:

"Most men are masterful, Miss Challoner. You will find that out some
day for yourself." He meant nothing by this little speech, and he was
rather taken aback by the sudden hot blush that came to the girl's
face, and the almost angry light in her eyes, as she turned away from
him and ran down the slippery steps, to Captain