hen the guests arrive."

"This poor little guest is evidently of small account," thinks Molly,
rather piqued, and, as the thought crosses her mind, the door opens and
Philip comes toward her.

"Good-morning," he says, cheerfully.

"You have breakfasted?" Marcia asks, coldly, in a rather surprised
tone.

"Long since. But I will take a cup of coffee from you now, if you will
allow me."

"I hardly think you deserve it," remarks Molly, turning luminous,
laughing eyes upon him. "Marcia has just been telling me of your bad
habits. Fancy your preferring your breakfast all alone to having it
with----"

"You?" interrupts he, quickly. "I admit your argument; it was bearish;
but I was particularly engaged this morning. You shall not have to
complain of my conduct in the future, however, as I am resolved to mend
my ways. See how you have improved me already."

"Too sudden a reformation, I fear, to be lasting."

"No. It all hinges on the fact that the iron was hot. There is no
knowing what you may not do with me before you leave, if you will only
take the trouble to teach me. Some more toast?"

"No, thank you."

Marcia grows a shade paler, and lets one cup rattle awkwardly against
another. Have they forgotten her very presence?

"I have not much fancy for the _role_ of teacher," goes on Molly,
archly: "I have heard it is an arduous and thankless one. Besides, I
believe you to be so idle that you would disgrace my best efforts."

"Do you? Then you wrong me. On the contrary, you would find me a very
apt pupil,--ambitious, too, and anxious to improve under your tuition."

"Suppose," breaks in Marcia, with deadly civility, "you finish your
_tete-a-tete_ in the drawing-room. We have quite done breakfast, I
think, and one wearies of staring at the very prettiest china after a
bit. Will you be good enough to ring the bell, Philip?"

"Our _tete-a-tete_, as you call it, must be postponed," says
Philip, smiling, rising to obey her order; "I am still busy, and must
return to my work. Indeed, I only left it to pay you a flying visit."

Although his tone includes both women, his eyes rest alone on Molly.

"Then you do actually work, sometimes?" says that young lady, with
exaggerated surprise and uplifted lids.

"Now and then,--occasionally--as little as I can help."

"What a speech, coming from an ambitious pupil!" cries she, gayly. "Ah!
did I not judge you rightly a moment ago when I accused you of
idleness?"

Philip la