air, fingered
the things in his pockets, hoped it would soon be time for luncheon, and
wondered whether he and Maisie would be allowed to go out first.

"Ah, here is Philippa!" said Aunt Katharine.

A little girl of about Maisie's age--but so much taller and slighter
that she looked a great deal older--came into the room. She had rather
long features, a pointed chin, and a very pure white complexion, with
hardly a tinge of colour; and, as she ran forward to kiss her little
brown-faced cousins, she was a great contrast to them in every way. Her
dress, which was prettily made and fanciful, and her gleaming bronze
shoes added to this; for Dennis and his sister seldom wore anything but
serge or holland, and their boots were of strong country make, which
made their feet look rather clumsy.

"If the children _must_ wear such thick boots, Katharine," Mrs Trevor
often said, "you might at least have them made to fit. It gives them
the air of little clodhoppers."

But Miss Chester went her own way, and Aunt Trevor's objections had no
effect on her arrangements.

"Ask if we may go out!" said Dennis, in an urgent whisper to his cousin,
who at once ran up to her mother, and repeated the request in the midst
of her conversation with Aunt Katharine. Mrs Trevor cast an anxious
glance out the window.

"Well, my darling, as you have a cold and the wind is in the east, I
think you had better play indoors. You can take your cousins into the
long gallery and have a nice game."

Philippa frowned and pushed out her lower lip:

"I want to go out," she murmured.

"But your cough, my dearest," said her mother in a pleading tone.--"What
do you say, Katharine? Would it not be more prudent for her to keep
indoors?"

"I think it would be best for her to do as you wish," said Aunt
Katharine, with a half smile at Philippa's pouting lips.

"I _must_ go out with Dennis and Maisie," said the little girl in a
whining voice.

"Dennis and Maisie will be quite happy indoors," said Mrs Trevor
entreatingly; "you can show them your new violin, you know, and play
them a tune."

"I don't want to," said Philippa, with a rising sob.

Mrs Trevor looked alarmed.

"My darling, don't excite yourself," she said; "we will see--we will ask
Miss Mervyn. Perhaps if you are very warmly wrapped up."

Philippa's brow cleared at once.

"Then we may go?" she said.

"Ask Miss Mervyn to come and speak to me a moment," said her mother.
"Such a diffic