together, weren't you, Peggy? Two
months is a long time, especially when you are travelling. It is as
good as two years at home. I dare say you feel as if you knew Hector
much better than you do Rob, for it is really six years now since you
two saw much of each other."

Rosalind spoke with a guileless sweetness of manner, and nothing could
have been more innocent than the expression of her eyes; nevertheless
Peggy suspected that a deliberate intention to annoy lurked behind the
amicable manner, for it was evident that there was no more sympathy than
of old between the brother and sister. She flushed indignantly, and was
about to make a heated reply, when two tall figures appeared in the
doorway, and waved an eager greeting. The older of the two was none
other than Hector Darcy himself--(Tiresome creature! to put in an
appearance at such an inopportune moment!)--and Arthur was his
companion, looking well, what Arthur always _did_ look in his sister's
eyes--the handsomest and most distinguished man in the room. Peggy had
seen him earlier in the evening, but through all the embarrassment of
meeting Hector with his sister's words still ringing in her ears, she
was acutely conscious of every detail of his meeting with Rosalind; her
little rustling movement of agitation, the flash in his eyes, above all,
the eloquent silence with which hand met hand. Alas, poor Arthur! no
need to wonder any longer if he cared, with that look on his face, that
tell-tale light in his eye! After the first quick glance his sister
averted her eyes, as from something sacred, and poured out a flood of
rapid, inconsequent talk to the new-comer. Hector was unaffectedly
delighted at the meeting, and became unusually lively, as he retailed
items of information about different passengers on board the steamer,
whom he had met since his return to England, while Peggy in her turn had
her own little histories to add to the store.

"You remember the old lady in the alpaca dress who called me a `restful
influence'? It appears she is the head of the millinery department in
one of the Calcutta shops, and was on her way to Paris to study
fashions. We ran across her in a restaurant there, and she told us all
about it, and offered to get my hats at wholesale prices. I thanked her
kindly, but taking note of the fact that she was wearing a purple toque
with trimmings of crimson and green, politely but firmly refused."

"I should think so, indeed! Terri