. Pam was fourteen, a lanky
schoolgirl, who had outgrown her kitten-like graces, and entered the
world of school, where everything (including the return of a half-
forgotten brother!) was secondary in interest to the strictures of
"Maddie" on the subject of French verbs, the ambition of some day
becoming "head girl," and the daily meetings with her bosom friend
Nellie Banks.

Everyone had grown older; even little Jerry Vanburgh, who six years
before had been by his own account "a baby angel up in heaven," was now
a sturdy rascal of four, in man-of-war suits, whose love of fun and
frolic was worthy of his mother's son.

What would Miles think of them all? Betty asked herself as she donned
her prettiest dress, in preparation for the long-expected hour. Would
he be prepared for the changes which had taken place, or feel surprised
and chilled, perhaps even disappointed, to find his old companions
turned into comparative strangers? He had never had much imagination,
dear old lad!--it would be just like him to come home expecting to find
everything looking as if he had left it but a month before.

Betty leant her arms on the dressing-table and stared scrutinisingly at
her reflection in the mirror. She had always been a severe judge of her
own charms, and now the remembrance of Jill's sparkling little face made
her own appear unnaturally grave and staid; still, when all was said and
done, she looked very _nice_!--the old schoolgirl word came in as ever
to fill an awkward place.

Twenty-four though she undoubtedly was, it was certain that she was
prettier than she had been at eighteen, and pink was Miles' favourite
colour--she had remembered that in buying her new dress, and had chosen
it especially for his benefit. "Oh, I hope he'll like me! He _must_
like me!" she cried to herself, with a rush of love and longing swelling
at her heart. How was it that as one grew older, home ceased to be the
absolutely complete and satisfying world which it had been in early
days? Why was it that, surrounded with father and mother, and sisters
and brothers, all dear and kind and loving, the heart would yet
experience a feeling of loneliness, a longing for something too
intangible to be put into words?

"I want something--_badly_! What can it be?" Betty had questioned of
herself times and again during the last few years, and the invariable
answer had been--"Miles! It must be the loss of Miles which I feel more
and more, inste