u. I am sure you will be
very, very happy with her. She is the most lovable, sweet woman in the
world, and when she spoke of your mother her eyes filled with tears. And
the children are simply _splendid_. I suppose I am unduly fond of them
because they made so much of me, and think that my brother is the finest
rider in the world--'and he is that, indade'--isn't that Irish?"

"Yes," said Sheila smilingly, "that is Irish; and I am sure I shall be
very happy there."

Myra Grainger, who was certainly, as she had said, wildly excited,
suddenly moved her chair close to that on which Sheila sat.

"Miss Carolan, I'm sure that you and I will always be great 'chums'--as
they say here in North Queensland--and I'm just dying to tell you of
something. Within this last hour I have become engaged to Mr. Mallard!
Even Ted doesn't know it yet. Oh, I have heaps and heaps of things to
tell you. Can't we have a real, nice long talk to-night?"

"Indeed we can," said Sheila, looking into the girl's bright, happy
face.

CHAPTER IX ~ DINNER WITH "THE REFINED FAMILY"

Somewhat to the annoyance of Grainger and his friends, they found on
their arrival at "Magnetic Villa" that there were several other visitors
there who had apparently come to dine. Whether they were personal
friends of Mrs. Trappeme or not, or were "paying guests" like
themselves, they could not at first discover.

"Dinner will be ready at eight o'clock, Miss Grainger," said Mrs.
Trappeme sweetly to Myra, who with Sheila had been shown into their
private sitting-room; and then she added quickly, as she heard a
footstep in the passage, "You have not met my daughter. Come, Juliette,
dear--Miss Grainger, my eldest daughter; Miss Carolan, Miss Trappeme."

The two girls bowed rather coldly to Miss Trappeme, who, after the usual
commonplaces, asked Miss Grainger if she were not tired.

"Very--and so is Miss Carolan. We shall be glad of an hour's rest before
dinner."

The hint was unmistakable, and Miss Trappeme smiled herself out,
inwardly raging at what she told her mother was Sheila's forwardness in
so soon thrusting herself upon Miss Grainger.

As she went out, Sheila looked at Myra and laughed. "We are certainly
meant to be treated as members of the family, whether we like it or
not. I wonder if the other people we saw are as pushful as 'Mamma' and
'Juliette.'"

"I trust not; that would be awful--even for a week."

Mallard was in Grainger's room, sprawled out