ed into the room,
transformed almost out of recognition by a few touches accomplished by
Betty's nimble fingers.

Her long mane of hair was twisted into an exaggerated "door-knocker," at
the top of which, with all the appearance of a very fly-away toque, was
perched one of the frilled pink shades which covered the electric
lights; a piece of Eastern drapery was folded scarf-like round her
shoulders. Perk by name and Perk by nature did she appear as she minced
across the room, while hostess and maid alike looked on in helpless
convulsions of laughter. No rehearsal was possible under the
circumstances, though Cynthia persisted in acting her part, and sat on
the edge of the sofa tossing her head, and delivering herself of
staccato little sentences in reply to imaginary questions suitable to
the occasion.

"Oh, really! No indeed! Unusually cold for the time of year. Most
kind of you, I'm sure. Charming opportunity?"

"You impertinent girl; go and put back those things this minute! How
dare you make fun of me and spoil the look of my hall!" cried Nan,
wiping the tears from her eyes; then she turned towards the clock, and
her face fell.

"Ten minutes to four! They ought to be coming! Why don't they come?--
Now then, I _told_ you how it would be! There's the bell, and
everything upset!"

With a bound Miss Perks was in the middle of the floor, tearing the
scarf from her shoulders, and shaking her hair loose from its
fastenings. Betty jumped on a chair to put the shade back in its place,
Nan threw the drapery over the easel, which being done, all three rushed
to the head of the staircase, and peered curiously into the hall
beneath.

Once more disappointment awaited them, for a brown-paper parcel was the
nearest approach to a governess which met their gaze, and the return to
the drawing-room was conducted in a much more leisurely and dignified
manner than the exit. For the first time the awful possibility of
failure seemed to dawn on the hostess's heart.

"Suppose," she said blankly, "suppose Nobody comes! It would be a
terrible disappointment, but the worst of all would be Gervase--my
husband! He laughed so at the preparations. I've provided enough for
twenty. He would tease me to death if it were all left."

"It won't be!" cried Betty stoutly. "If the worst comes to the worst, I
shall be so ravenous with disappointment and nervous strain by six
o'clock, that I shall be able to demolish enough for ten