lushed by the cold air, and the fur collar of her
jacket turned up so as to hide the scarred cheek.

"Merry Christmas, Rosalind! How--how nice you look!" cried Peggy,
looking up and down the dainty figure with more pleasure in the sight
than she could have believed possible a few weeks before. After being
accustomed for four long weeks to gaze at those perfectly cut features,
Esther's long chin and Mellicent's retrousse nose had been quite a trial
to her artistic sensibilities on her return to the vicarage. It was
like having a masterpiece taken down from the walls and replaced by an
inferior engraving. She gave a sigh of satisfaction as she looked once
more at Rosalind's face.

"Mewwy Chwistmas, Peggy! I've missed you fwightfully. I've not been to
church, but I dwove down to meet the others, and came to see you. I had
to see you on Chwistmas Day. I've had lovely pwesents, and there are
more to come. Mother has given you the bwacelet, I see. Is it what you
like?"

"My dear, I love it. I'm fearfully addicted to jewellery. I had to put
it on at once, and it looks quite elegant on top of the bandages! I'm
inexpressibly obliged. I've got heaps of things--books, scent,
glove-box, writing-case, a big box coming from India, and--don't tell
her--an apron from Mellicent! The most awful thing. I can't think
where she found it. Yellow cloth with dog-roses worked in filoselle!
Imagine me in a yellow apron with spotty roses around the brim!"

"He! he! I can't! I weally can't. It's too widiculous!" protested
Rosalind. "She sent me a twine bag made of netted cotton. It's awfully
useful if you use twine, but I never do. Don't say I said so. Who got
the night-dwess bag with the two shades of blue that didn't match?"

"Esther! You should have seen her face!" whispered Peggy roguishly, and
the girls went into peals of laughter, which brought Robert hurrying
across the room to join them.

"Now then, Rosalind; when you have quite done, I should like to speak to
Peggy. The compliments of the season to you, Mariquita; I hope I see
you well."

Peggy pursed up her lips, and looked him up and down with her dancing
hazel eyes.

"Most noble sir, the heavens rain blessings on you--Oh, my goodness,
there's the postman!" she said all in one breath; and the partners
darted forward side by side towards the front door, where the old
postman was already standing, beaming all over his weatherbeaten face,
as he began tur