listened with
amazed admiration to the high-flown eloquence of her remarks. Who would
have believed that Peggy was so well read, or able to conduct so learned
a conversation? Even her old instructor was surprised at her knowledge,
forgetting for the moment that education is by no means finished when a
girl leaves the schoolroom. Miss Peggy had associated with many clever
men during her four years' sojourn in India, had rubbed her sharp little
wits against theirs, and not only heard but remembered what they had had
to tell. She had likewise had abundant opportunity of cultivating her
natural gift for conversation, and the little minx was by no means sorry
to have an opportunity of quoting _a propos_ remarks in assent to the
professor's axioms, and thus impressing old and new friends at the same
time.

Rob scowled in the background and scraped his feet on the carpet, a sign
of disapproval peculiarly trying to the nerves of his hostess; but then,
as Mellicent sagely observed, Rob always _was_ furious if Peggy talked
to any one but himself; so that it was no use taking any notice of
_him_, and so soon as tea was over, Mrs Asplin ordered him away with
the two older men, feeling sure that the girls were longing for a chat
by themselves. The two stooping figures went down the garden-path, with
Rob's stalwart form towering behind, and the three women who loved them
watched from the window, and murmured benedictions in their hearts.

"Austin looks as young as the professor himself, not one bit more bowed.
He is so happy, bless him, to have gained another son."

"Edward will have a talk with father, and father will find out what he
is like. How intellectual he looks! He has the true scholarly air,
such a contrast to big, lumbering Rob."

"Two dear good pigmies, but the giant for me! What a comfort to see
brain and muscle together! As a rule one seems to entirely absorb the
other," sighed Miss Peggy happily, then turned to accost Esther with
uplifted finger. "Esther, oh, Esther, who would have thought it?"

"It was very mean of you, Peggy, to make fun of me like that. I was
most uncomfortable. If Edward had guessed you were making fun--"

"But he did not, you see, so no harm is done, and you could not expect
to escape scot free. _You_ to get engaged, after all your vows and
protestations! You to fall in love like an ordinary, ignorant girl!
You to condescend to marriage, when you might have spent your life
teac