ive genius hit on a method of
concealing it. Revers, niches, and bows were tacked on with a
recklessness which made Eunice gasp with dismay, but she could not deny
that the effect was "Frenchy" and even artistic, for, whatever might be
Miss Peggy's shortcomings as a plain sew-er, she had a gift of graceful
draping which amounted almost to genius. After the first day's
experience Peggy had readily consented to her friend's plea for a week's
preparation, and well it was that she had done so, for it was five good
days before the bodices were sufficiently finished to allow the sleeves
to be taken in hand. Oh, those sleeves! Who would ever have believed
that it could be so difficult to fit such simple things, or to persuade
them to adapt themselves to holes expressly provided for their
accommodation? The girls spent weary hours turning, twisting, pleating
in, letting out, tacking, and untacking, until at length Peggy's long-
worn patience gave way altogether, and she vowed that not once again
should the blouse go on her back until she donned it for the evening's
exhibition.

"If they are not right this way, they will have to be wrong! I can't
waste all my life fussing over a pair of sleeves. What can it matter
whether they are put an inch one way or the other? They have just not
to settle down and be happy where I put them, for I'm not going to move
them any more!"

She frowned as she spoke and drew an impatient sigh, which did not
altogether refer to the work on hand. There was a weight on her heart
which refused to be conjured away even by the presence of Arthur and
Eunice, and the interests and occupations which they brought with them.
Rob was angry--no, what was even worse, he was not angry, but, with a
stupid masculine blindness, had taken for granted that his company was
no longer desired. Nearly a fortnight had passed since that miserable
afternoon, and not once had he been inside the gates of Yew Hedge. She
had met him twice, and each time had come home from the interview
feeling more miserable, as Rob elaborately sustained his old friendly
manner. To cry, "Hallo, Peggy!" on meeting; to discuss the doings of
the neighbourhood in an easy-going fashion, as if no cloud hovered
between them, and then to march past the very gates without coming in,
refuse invitations on trumpery excuses, and attend a church at the
opposite end of the parish--such behaviour as this was worse than
inconsistent in Peggy's eyes,