was full of rose-coloured schemes for the
amusement of her guests.

"Picture to yourself, my dear," she cried tragically, "that never yet
have I had the pleasure of entertaining a friend in my own domain! I
don't know if you will enjoy yourself, but I am sure that I shall. I
have views on the subject of hospitality, and am anxious to test them.
So I shall treat you like a puppet, and play all sorts of experiments on
you to try the effect. I should wish you to feel tired sometimes in the
morning, and stay in bed to breakfast, so that I could wait upon you,
and to be too lazy to dress yourself now and again, so that I could
arrange your hair in different styles. If you could manage to be a
little ill, it would be charming, for then I could nurse you and be
severe about your diet, but if you keep wen, we will make the best of
it, and entertain the neighbourhood. I'll set to work at once to plan
something original and startling."

"Oh, do!" cried Eunice eagerly. "I'd love to be startled. I shall look
forward to coming every single day until the time arrives, and be the
most obedient of puppets. You are a dear, Peggy--I _do_ love you! I'm
so grateful to you for being kind to me."

"It's my nature, dear. Go on deserving it. Three remarks at least I
insist upon at every meal, and if you could increase the number to six,
I should be correspondingly gratified. Don't stare at the carpet, don't
look frightened when there is nothing to be frightened at, and look
after my beloved brother for my sake. Those are my last instructions
for your guidance. Arthur feels lonely sometimes, just as you do, and
it would help you both if you would talk to him sometimes, or, still
better, let him talk to you. Men, my dear," sighed Miss Peggy with an
air of experience, "men like nothing better than to talk of themselves
with a woman as audience. Ask questions about his work, his plans, his
thoughts, and he will go on talking happily, so long as you will sit and
listen to him. You could do that, at least, if you could not talk
yourself."

"Oh yes, easily. I'd like it. I love to hear him talk," assented
Eunice naively. She fixed her soft shy eyes upon Peggy's face as she
spoke, and that young lady felt that she had shown her usual shrewdness
in suggesting such an arrangement, for a sweeter _confidante_ it would
have been difficult to find, or one more ready with sympathetic
interest.

With her usual tactfulness Eunice decli