t fell far short of beauty; but, none the less,
the eye dwelt upon her in fascinated attention, so graceful was the pose
of the small, stag-like head, so finely cut the curve of chin and cheek;
while the smallest action, as of lifting a cup to her lips, became a
veritable joy to behold.

She was the incarnation of grace, and, looking at her, Mollie became
uncomfortably aware of roughened hair, sunburnt hands, and a dozen
little deficiencies of toilette. Even Ruth suffered from the
comparison, and, despite an obvious effort to sustain her role as
hostess, there was a strained, unhappy expression upon her face which
went to Mollie's heart.

It was a relief to all when Lady Margot rose to take leave; but when she
offered her hand to Victor in his turn, he said eagerly--

"Mayn't I walk down with you to the vicarage? It is so long since we
met! Please let me take you so far!"

"Oh, certainly, if you can spare the time!" replied Lady Margot with a
careless indifference of manner which made her consent almost more
blighting than a refusal.

Victor winced beneath it, but made no comment, and the two tall figures
walked slowly down the terrace. Immediately they had disappeared, Jack
summoned a servant to wheel him into the house, and the girls were left
alone.

They sat silently for a long time, as true friends can do without
offence, Ruth gazing ahead with grey eyes which saw nothing of the
beauty of the scene; Mollie glancing from time to time at her troubled
face, then turning quickly aside, lest her scrutiny might be observed
and resented.

At length Ruth spoke, letting her figure drop back in her chair with a
gesture of weariness--

"I wonder how it is that nothing is ever as nice as one expects? If we
could have looked forward two months ago, and seen ourselves as we are
now, we should have imagined ourselves the happiest creatures on earth;
but I am not. Sometimes it seems quite perfect for a few moments, but
something always happens to rub off the bloom. Uncle Bernard is cross,
or Mrs Wolff stupid, or--or something else! I believe we are not meant
to be happy in this world!"

Mollie looked up with a quick flush of dissent.

"Oh, I think that is such a grudging idea! I hate to hear people say
it, and I can't think how they can, when they look round, and see how
bright and beautiful everything has been made! If God had meant us to
be dull and sad, would He have made all the flowers different colours