else! Curls indeed! One would think it was
something extraordinary to have curls! My hair would curl too, if I
chose to make it, but I don't; I prefer to have it straight! If she is
the `Honourable Rosalind,' I am Mariquita Saville, and I'm not going to
be patronised by anybody--so there!" and Peggy tossed her head, and
glared at the reflection in the glass in a lofty and scornful manner, as
though it were the offending party who had had the audacity to assume
superiority.

Robert was one with Peggy in hoping that his people would not leave town
until such time as the calendar should be despatched on its travels, for
when they were installed at the Larches he was expected to be at home
each week from Saturday until Monday, and the loss of that long holiday
afternoon would interfere seriously with the work on hand. He had seen
so little of his people for the last few years, that he would be
expected to be sociable during the short time that he was with them, and
could hardly shut himself up in his room for hours at a time. Despair
then settled down upon both partners, when a letter arrived to say that
the Darcy family were coming down even earlier than had been expected,
and summoning Robert to join them at the earliest possible moment.

"This is awful!" cried the lad, ruffling his hair with a big, restless
hand. "I know what it means--not only Saturdays off, but two or three
nights during the week into the bargain! Between you and me, Mariquita,
the governor is coming down here to economise, and intends to stay much
longer than usual. Hector has been getting into debt again; he's the
eldest, you know--the one in the Life Guards. It's a lot too bad, for
he has had it all his own way so far, and when he runs up bills like
this, everyone has to suffer for it. Mother hates the country for more
than a few weeks at a time, and will be wretched if she is kept here all
through the winter. I know how it will be: she will keep asking people
down, and getting up all sorts of entertainments to relieve the dulness.
It's all very well in its way, but just now when I need every minute--"

"Shall you give up trying for the prize?" asked Peggy faintly, and Rob
threw back his head with emphatic disclaimer.

"I never give up a thing when I have made up my mind to do it! There
are ten days still, and a great deal can be done in ten days. I'll take
a couple of books upstairs with me every night, and see if I can find
someth