; but his eyes followed the
movements of the girl as she stepped quietly about the room, pouring out
tea for one, carrying cake and biscuits to another. Twice he sprang up
to assist her, but was met with a smile and a shake of the head from
her, and the assurance from her uncle that Enid liked waiting on
people--he need not try to take her vocation from her. He had to sit
down again, and thought, half against his will, of that other
Enid--Tennyson's Enid, in her faded gown--and of Prince Geraint's desire
to kiss the dainty thumb "that crossed the trencher as she set it down."
He at least was no Geraint, he said to himself, to win this gentle
maiden's heart. But he watched her nevertheless, with a growing
admiration which was not a little dangerous.

With a faint cynical smile Florence noted the direction of his eyes. As
soon as her husband and his niece entered the room, she had lapsed into
the graceful indolent silence which seemed habitual to her. Enid brought
her a cup of tea, and ministered to her wants with assiduity and
gentleness of manner, though, as Hubert thought, with no great show of
affection; and Florence accepted the girl's attentions with perfect
equanimity and a caressing word of two of thanks. And yet Hubert
fancied--he knew not why--that there was no look of love in Flossy's
drooping eyes.

"Please may I come in?" said Master Dick's small treble at the door. He
was a fair, blue-eyed little fellow, but not much like either his father
or his mother, thought Hubert, as the child stood in the doorway and
looked rather doubtfully into the room.

Florence's brow contracted for a moment.

"Why are you not having your nursery-tea?" she said. "We do not want you
here unless we send for you."

"I want to see uncle Hubert," persisted the boy stolidly.

Hubert held out his hand to him with a smile that children still found
winning.

"Come in, little man," he said. "I want to see you too."

Dick marched in at once, still, however, keeping an eye fixed upon his
mother. There was something almost like fear in the look; and it was
noticeable that neither the General nor Enid spoke to invite him into
the room.

"You may come in," Florence said at last, very coldly--almost as one
might speak to a grown person whom one had strong reason to
dislike--"but you cannot stay more than five minutes. You are not wanted
here."

"Oh, come, I think we all want him!" said Hubert good-humoredly. "I wish
to make my neph