ed parents, and had thought how few
pleasures she enjoyed, but had consoled himself by the reflection that
she had little taste for the ordinary amusements of youth. Like a quiet
little mouse she slipped in and out, never voluntarily opening a
conversation, nor prolonging it a moment longer than was necessary. A
struggling smile had seemed the height of merriment to which she could
attain, so that to see the quivering shoulders and streaming eyes was
indeed a revelation of the unexpected. Arthur's feelings were curiously
contradictory at that moment. He was gratified at the tribute to his
sister's fascination, and yet in some inexplicable manner conscious of a
jarring note in his satisfaction. He himself had always been regarded
as a sufficiently witty and interesting personage. How had it happened
that he had failed where Peggy had succeeded?

When Eunice left the room to allow brother and sister to enjoy a
confidential chat, the conversation soon drifted to the subject of her
own personality.

"Why did you never tell me what a darling she was?" Peggy demanded. "I
love her already, and I am going to love her a great deal more. She is
just as sweet as can be, and here have you been living in this house for
months, and never a word have you told me about her, except that there
_was_ a daughter, and that she was twenty-two. It's not like you to be
so unappreciative, my dear! Don't you think she deserves more attention
than that?"

"I don't think I thought much about her in anyway," replied Arthur, with
that air of masculine superiority which never failed to rouse his
sister's ire. "She seems a nice quiet sort of girl."

Peggy sniffed contemptuously, and tossed her head in the air.

"Nice quiet girl indeed! Is that your verdict? She is ch-arming, my
dear, that's what she is, and as for looks--Well, she may not be
striking to the casual observer, but if you take the trouble to look at
her face, it's like a beautiful old miniature. Did you _ever_ see
anything like her eyelashes? They come half-way down her cheeks, and
her eyes are the sweetest I have ever seen, except Mrs Asplin's."

"Eyes!" echoed Arthur vaguely. "Eyelashes! Really!--I'm afraid I have
never noticed."

"Then please notice at once. It's time you did. Don't let me have a
bat for a brother, if you please. Some people look so much at other
people that they can't see the people who are staring them in the face!"
cried Miss Peggy elega