laughed too, and was lost, and we returned to the veranda--Everard in
triumph, and I feeling very red and uncomfortable.

Grannie had arrived upon the scene, looking the essence of brisk
respectability in a black silk gown and a white lace cap. She cast on me
a glance of severe disapproval, and denounced my conduct as shameful; but
uncle Jay-Jay's eyes twinkled as he dexterously turned the subject.

"Gammon, mother! I bet you were often kissed when that youngster's age. I
bet my boots now that you can't count the times you did the same thing
yourself. Now, confess."

Grannie's face melted in a smile as she commenced a little anecdote, with
that pathetic beginning, "When I was young."

Aunt Helen sent me inside lest I should catch cold, and I stationed
myself immediately inside the window so that I should not miss the
conversation. "I should think your niece is very excitable," Mr Grey was
saying to aunt Helen.

"Oh, very."

"Yes; I have never seen any but very highly strung temperaments have that
transparent brilliance of expression."

"She is very variable--one moment all joy, and the next the reverse."

"She has a very striking face. I don't know what it is that makes it so."

"It may be her complexion," said aunt Helen; "her skin is whiter than the
fairest blonde, and her eyebrows and lashes very dark. Be very careful
you do not say anything that would let her know you think her not nice
looking. She broods over her appearance in such a morbid manner. It is a
weak point with her, so be careful not to sting her sensitiveness in that
respect."

"Plain-looking! Why, I think she has one of the most fascinating faces
I've seen for some time, and her eyes are simply magnificent. What colour
are they?"

"The grass is not bad about Sydney. I think I will send a truck Of fat
wethers away next week," said uncle Jay-Jay to grannie.

"It is getting quite dark. Let's get in to dinner at once," said grannie.

During the meal I took an opportunity of studying the appearance of
Everard Grey. He had a typically aristocratic English face, even to the
cold rather heartless expression, which is as established a point of an
English blue blood as an arched neck is of a thoroughbred horse.

A ringer, whose wife had been unexpectedly confined, came for grannie
when dinner was over, and the rest of us had a delightful musical
evening. Uncle Jay-Jay bawled "The Vicar of Bray" and "Drink, Puppy,
Drink" in a stentorian bass voic