how it will be--"

"But you won't need presents, dear. You are going to marry a
millionaire, and live in the lap of luxury ever after. You settled that
years ago," said Peggy slyly; but Arthur smiled reassuringly in the
troubled face, and said:

"Never mind, Chubby, you shall have exactly the same present from me, at
any rate! Diamond brooch, mouse-trap, clothes-pegs, all complete. I'll
stand by you. Just drop me a line when it's settled, and I will look
after them at once."

"Oh, thank you, Arthur--I will!" agreed Mellicent with a fervour which
evoked a peal of laughter from her companions. Esther gathered together
her possessions and ran off to her own room to put on her dress, and
Mrs Asplin escorted her visitors to the drawing-room, where tea was
served for their refreshment. Another woman might have apologised for
the shabby dress which she had donned for a hard day's work, and felt
uncomfortable at having been discovered in such guise by a young lady
accustomed to move in the highest circle of London society, but that was
not Mrs Asplin's way. She seated herself in the sunniest seat that the
room afforded, and picked off the odd ends of thread which were
scattered over her skirt with smiling unconcern, too much engrossed in
thinking of her guests to have any care for her own appearance. She
made Eunice sit beside her, and seeing that the girl looked shy, chatted
away to her in friendly Irish fashion, so as to put her at her ease.
Her face lightened as she did so, for she was thinking to herself: "But
she is charming! A dear, little tender face that might be quite
beautiful some day. The child is half alive, but if some one woke her
up--I wonder now if Arthur--" She turned suddenly, and met Arthur's eyes
fixed upon her, intent and questioning, as if for some reason he was
keenly interested in her impressions of Eunice Rollo. Was it
imagination, or did he flush beneath her questioning glance? For one
moment she felt sure that he did, but the next it seemed as if she must
have been mistaken, for he was addressing her with all his wonted self-
possession.

"Mater, I've been telling these girls that I'm going to get up a picnic
next week. I want to arrange some sort of a jollification before Esther
goes, and a picnic seems the best thing to try for in this weather.
Professor Reid will be here, so he will take care of Esther, and I'll
get the two Darcys to join, and hire a chaperon for the occasion.