ne, too; and what do you
think was my dream? Instead of being a lonely only girl, I was a large
family of grown-up sisters, and schoolboys coming home for the holidays,
and little dots in the nursery--all in my own little self. You can't
imagine how dull it is to be an only girl!"

"No," asserted Ruth doubtfully. "But rather nice to get all the petting
and consideration! When you are the eldest of seven children, you are
always expected to set an example, and it is very wearing at times. How
delightful that you amused yourself `pretending,' just as we did! That
makes quite a bond of union between us!"

"Yes, indeed! But lucky creatures, your dream seems about to come true,
while I am as lonely as ever. Your position at the Court is so
romantic! You don't mind my speaking about it, do you, because everyone
knows, and is so interested in the result? Of course, one of you must
be the lucky heir; and then we shall be neighbours, and see each other
constantly. Which is it to be--Berengaria, or Lucille?"

"Mollie!" said Ruth.

"Ruth!" said Mollie. "Don't believe her, Lady Margot. She is a wee bit
out of favour the last few days, but I haven't a chance beside her. She
has the Farrell eyebrows, you see, and the Farrell frown, and poise of
the head. When she is sitting in the dining-room, you could tell at
once that she was a descendant of the oil-paintings. I often see Uncle
Bernard looking from her to them, and he is far more amiable to her than
to any of us, as a rule. We all agree that she is far and away the
chief favourite."

"Really! You discuss it among yourselves, and come to the same
conclusions. How interesting!" said Lady Margot. "And the two men--
your cousins--do they have no chance at all, poor things?" she asked
lightly.

"They are not our cousins. They belong to different sides of the house,
and we had never met till we came down here. Mr Melland refuses to be
considered as a `candidate,' and is staying only till his ankle is
better. Mr Druce,"--Ruth hesitated uncertainly--"he is very nice to
Uncle Bernard. They talk together a good deal. Sometimes I think his
chance is very good."

"He is certainly second favourite, so far; but we have more than two
months still before us. I intend to cut them both out long before then.
May I have one of those dear little scones? I am quite hungry after my
drive!" Mollie said, as she in turn was presented with a dainty
Worcester cup.

She