f
attention. Rob always did as I told him, and he will not disappoint me
now."

Mellicent gazed at her friend in reflective fashion. She called up
before her a picture of Rob's great stooping form, his shaggy head, and
overhanging brows, and contrasted it mentally with that of the slim
little, neat little, prettiest of elf-like figures before her. No, it
was not in the least likely that Rob would disappoint Peggy Saville.
"Those dreadful Savilles" had now, as ever, the power of enforcing
obedience from their vassals.

"But all the same," she repeated obstinately, "but all the same he would
have liked you better if you had been a beetle!"

CHAPTER SIX.

The next morning was devoted to another house-hunting expedition,
unsuccessful as its predecessor, while in the afternoon came a fresh
excitement, in the shape of a call from Arthur's "chief," accompanied by
his wife and daughter. Mr Rob had had a slight acquaintance with
Colonel Saville years before, so that the interview lost some of the
stiffness incidental to such occasions; and while the two men talked
together in one corner of the room, their wives exchanged condolences on
the ever-fruitful subject of domestic arrangements, and the three girls
cast curious glances at one another in the intervals of conversation.

"I am afraid you must find the weather chilly. Our English springs are
very treacherous!" remarked Miss Rollo properly, turning her card-case
round and round in her hands, and blinking rapidly with a pair of shy
grey eyes, veiled by eyelashes of extraordinary length and silkiness.
As the only child of distinguished parents, Miss Eunice Rollo was a
personage of some importance in society; but she appeared much more
afraid of the two girls than they were of her, and kept her eyes fixed
so persistently on the carpet that Mellicent enjoyed an unusual
opportunity of indulging a favourite pastime, and sat braced against the
back of her chair, staring stolidly up and down, down and up, until she
could have passed an examination on the minutest detail of the
stranger's appearance and clothing. As for Peggy, she prattled away on
the engrossing subjects of sun and rain, while her thoughts went off on
an excursion of their own, and busied themselves with criticisms on the
new visitor.

"Eunice by name, and Eunice by nature! A more Eunicey creature I never
beheld. Grey eyes like Mrs Asplin... I could love her for those
alone, but _so_ solemn! I'd