provincial, but distinct from
that of the London drawing-room; the educated speech of the ubiquitous
middle-class, with a note of individuality which promised to command
itself better in a few minutes. The voice was pleasantly clear.

"You had no difficulty in finding the carriage?" said Lady Ogram,
speaking with obvious effort.

"Oh, none whatever, thank you! So kind of you to send it for me."

"I wanted to see you for a moment, as soon as you arrived. Now they
shall take you to your room. Come down again as soon as you like; we
will have tea."

"Thank you; that will be very nice."

Miss Tomalin stood up, looked at the plants and flowers about her, and
added in a voice already more courageous:

"What a charming room! Green is so good for the eyes."

"Are your eyes weak?" inquired Lady Ogram, anxiously.

"Oh, not really weak," was the rapid answer (Miss Tomalin spoke more
quickly as she gained confidence), "I use glasses when I am studying or
at the piano, but they're not _actually_ necessary. Still, I have been
advised to be careful. Of course I read a great deal."

There was a spontaneity, a youthful vivacity, in her manner, which
saved it from the charge of conceit; she spoke with a naive earnestness
pleasantly relieved by the smile in her grey eyes and by something in
the pose of her head which suggested a latent modesty.

"I know you are a great student," said Lady Ogram, regarding her
amiably. "But run and take off your hat, and come back to tea."

She and Constance sat together, silent. They did not exchange glances.

"Well?" sounded at length from the throne, a tentative monosyllable.

Constance looked up. She saw that Lady Ogram was satisfied, happy.

"I'm glad Miss Tomalin was so punctual," was all she could find to say.

"So am I. But we were talking about your deafness: you must have it
seen to. Young people nowadays! They can't hear, they can't see, they
have no teeth--"

"Miss Tomalin, I noticed, has excellent teeth."

"She takes after me in that. Her eyes, too, are good enough, but she
has worn them out already. She'll have to stop that reading; I am not
going to have her blind at thirty. She didn't seem to be deaf, did she?"

"No more than I am, Lady Ogram."

"You are not deaf? Then why did you say you were?"

"It was you, not I, that said so," answered Constance, with a laugh.

"And what do you think of her?" asked Lady Ogram sharply.

"I think her interesting," was Miss Bride'