th inquiring eyes. Esmeralda turned towards the lounge,
anxiety thinly disguised by smiles, and, seeing her, the Duchess rose
from her seat with a sigh of regret.

"Your sister is a born story-teller, Mrs Hilliard. I wish I had more
time to listen. Please ask me to meet her again! It is a long time
since I have been so amused."

Here was praise indeed! Esmeralda beamed with satisfaction, and seized
Pixie's hand with an unusual outburst of affection.

"How noble of you, dear! She was looking as bored as bored, and I was
at my wits' end. What did you tell her that made her laugh like that?"

"Oh, nothing much. Just things about ourselves, and the adventures at
home. 'Twas the beeswax pudding that pleased her most," said Pixie
easily, and wondered at Esmeralda's sudden extinction of interest.

"Now what disclosures has that child been making next!" cried the
freckled girl, looking on at this little scene with curious eyes. "I
doubt whether Esmeralda appreciates them as much as the Duchess. We
used to say at home that if there was one thing which should not be
revealed, Pixie was bound to choose it as the subject of conversation on
the first possible occasion! And she was so sweet and innocent about
it, too, that it was impossible to be angry. I expect you have found
out that for yourself?"

"Yes--No!" said Sylvia absently, for she was thinking less of what she
was saying than of certain phrases which her companion had just uttered.
"We used to say at home." Who was this, then, who had known Pixie
O'Shaughnessy in bygone days--could it by any chance be the dreaded
rival towards whom she was prepared to cherish so ardent a dislike? She
stared at the honest, kindly face, and felt that it would be difficult
to harbour a prejudice against its owner, even if--if-- "Are you Miss
Burrell?" she asked, and Mollie smiled assent.

"I am that, and you are Sylvia Trevor. I've heard about you from--"

"Bridgie--yes! We have been great friends all winter."

"Not Bridgie--no! We had so much to discuss about the old place and its
people, that I'm afraid we have never mentioned your name. It was not
Bridgie."

"Oh!" said Sylvia, and stared across the room. It might, of course,
have been Esmeralda herself who had enlightened Miss Burrell's
ignorance, but there was a mysterious something in the girl's manner
which gave a different impression. She was too proud to ask questions,
and Miss Burrell volunteered no in