s had a bad
illness and is staying with us for six months, to rest and be nursed up.
It would not be fair to stay away any longer."

"I should think you might be allowed to rest in your holidays. You work
hard enough for the rest of the year, and I need you more than the old
aunt, I'm sure I do. You must come, if only for a week!"

"I wish I could, Rhoda, but it is not possible. I'll tell you, however,
who I believe _could_ come, and who would do you more good than I, and
that is Tom Bolderston! She is in no hurry to return home, and as it is
decided that she is not to come back to Hurst Manor, but go on straight
to Newnham, it will be your last opportunity of seeing her for some
time. You would enjoy having Tom, wouldn't you, Rhoda?"

Rhoda lifted her eyebrows with a comical expression. Tom here; Tom in
Erley Chase! Tom sitting opposite to Harold and blinking at him with
her little fish eyes--the thought was so comical that she laughed in
spite of herself.

"I think I should. It would be very funny. If I may ask her, mother--"

"Of course, of course, darling! Ask whom you will, for as long as you
like," cried the fond mother instantly. From what she had heard of Tom
she had come to the conclusion that she was a very strange, and not
entirely sane, young woman; but Rhoda wished it, Rhoda had laughed at
the suggestion, and said it would be "funny," and that settled the
question.

A letter of invitation was duly written and given into Miss Everett's
hand when the time came for departure, and brother and sister escorted
her to the station. Rhoda was insistent in her regrets at parting, and,
wonderful to relate, Harold condescended to make still another plea. If
it were impossible to arrange a visit, could not Miss Everett spare a
few hours at least, come down by an early train, and spend a day on the
river with himself and his sister? He urged the project so warmly that
Evie flushed with mingled pleasure and embarrassment.

"Don't tempt me! I should love it, but we are here only for four days,
and I have been away for one already. It would not be courteous."

"She is so horribly conscientious, that's the worst of her!" said Rhoda,
as she and Harold retraced their steps across the Park. "She is always
thinking about other people. A day on the river would have been
lovely."

"Yes, it's a pity. I thought we would ask Ella, and take up lunch and
tea."

"Yes, of course, a very good idea. Then we