the drawing-room; and with an agonized sign to her cousin Toni flew back
to her seat behind the tea-tray just as the door opened to admit
Andrews.

The visitors, knowing themselves unknown, had provided the servant with
cards; and these Andrews silently presented to his mistress, who took
them with a shaking hand.

"The Honourable Mrs. Anstey, Miss Olive Lynn, Mr. Barry Raymond----" She
broke off with a sigh of relief. "Why, that's Owen's friend, Fanny. It's
not half so bad if he's there!"

She turned to the man.

"Are they in the drawing-room, Andrews?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Oh!" For a second Toni hesitated, then common sense came to her rescue.
"I will come, Andrews. Fanny, will you come with me?"

"Oh, do let me stay here," begged Miss Gibbs, who was still endeavouring
to make herself tidy. "I'm such a sight, playing with the dog--but you
go, Toni ... and p'raps they won't stop long."

Toni walked across the hall with lagging footsteps, preceded by the
sympathetic Andrews, who threw open the door for her with a
compassionate air, and then retired to break the news of this intrusion
to the maids who were anxiously waiting his return.

In the drawing-room were three people; and as Toni made her entrance,
looking like a veritable schoolgirl in her blouse and short skirt, the
oldest of the trio came forward with an expression of surprise on her
beautiful, faded face.

"Mrs. Rose?" She shook hands. "I am so glad to find you at home. This is
my niece, Miss Lynn, who is staying with me--and Mr. Raymond I think you
know?"

Toni, feeling shyer than ever, shook hands with the pretty, grey-eyed
girl who approached at the sound of her name; and then turned, with a
feeling of genuine relief, to Barry.

"Mr. Raymond! I'm so pleased to see you--but I'm afraid Owen isn't at
home!"

"I know that!" He laughed. "He is doing a little work to-day, for a
change--and my call is really on you!"

"Well, won't you sit down?" Toni drew a low chair forward for Mrs.
Anstey, who accepted it with a smile, while Olive Lynn sank down on the
couch, where, after a second's pause, Toni also took her seat.

"I had hoped to see you before now," said Mrs. Anstey, with a smile
which won Toni's impressionable heart. "But I heard you had only just
got home, and thought I would give you a chance to settle down."

"It is very good of you to come," said Toni simply. "You live some
distance away, don't you? I think my husband pointed out your h