guests.
Peggy tore off dress and apron, and made all the speed she could, but
she was still standing in dressing-jacket and frilled white petticoat,
brushing out her long waves of hair when the door opened and Esther and
Mellicent entered. They had begged to be shown to Miss Saville's room,
and came rustling in, smiling and beaming, with woollen caps over their
heads, snow-shoes on their feet, and fleecy shawls swathed round and
round their figures, and fastened with a hairpin on the left shoulder,
in secure and elegant fashion. Peggy stood, brush in hand, staring at
them and shaking with laughter.

"He! he! he! I hope you are warm enough! Esther looks like a sausage,
and Mellicent looks like a dumpling. Come here, and I'll unwind you.
You look as if you could not move an inch, hand or foot."

"It was mother," Mellicent explained. "She was so afraid we would catch
cold. Oh, Peggy, you are not half dressed. You will be late! Whatever
have you been doing? Have you had a nice day? Did you enjoy it? What
did you have for dinner?"

Peggy waved her brush towards the door in dramatic warning.

"Rosalind's room!" she whispered. "Don't yell, my love, unless you wish
every word to be overheard. This is her dressing-room, which she lent
to me for the occasion, so there's only a door between us.--There, now,
you are free. Oh, dear me, how you have squashed your sash! You really
must remember to lift it up when you sit down. You had better stand
with your back to the fire, to take out the creases."

Mellicent's face clouded for a moment, but brightened again as she
caught sight of her reflection in the swing glass. Crumples or no
crumples, there was no denying that blue was a becoming colour. The
plump, rosy cheeks dimpled with satisfaction, and the flaxen head was
twisted to and fro to survey herself in every possible position.

"Is my hair right at the back? How does the bow look? I haven't burst,
have I? I thought I heard something crack in the cab. Do you think I
will do?"

"Put on your slippers, and I'll tell you. Anyone would look a fright in
evening dress and snow-shoes."

Peggy's answer was given with a severity which sent Mellicent waddling
across the room to turn out the contents of the bag which lay on the
couch, but the next moment came a squeal of consternation, and there she
stood in the attitude of a tragedy queen, with staring eyes, parted
lips, and two shabby black slippers grasped i