r Sunday dress, and descended in state to partake of dinner, which
was served an hour earlier than usual in consideration of the
travellers' hunger and fatigue.

Despite her weariness and nervous exhaustion, Lady Hayes had made what
appeared to Darsie's unsophisticated eyes a magnificent toilette for the
meal, and she eyed the Sunday frock with a criticism which was anything
but approving. "But it's the best I've got, except the party one, and I
can't wear that for one old lady," said Darsie to herself as she
followed meekly behind the _moire antique_ train, and seated herself at
the end of the dining-table. Two men-servants stood at attention--two!
one for each diner, solemn, immovable-looking creatures who seemed to
move on wheels and who kept their eyes glued upon every mouthful you
ate, ready to pounce upon your plate and nip it swiftly and noiselessly
away. They were stricken with dumbness also, if you were to trust the
evidence of your senses, but had certainly ears, and could drink in
every word you said.

For the rest, it might be soothing to one's pride to live in a big
country house, but it was certainly abnormally dull. The day's
programme never varied by a hair's breadth, and Aunt Maria, though kind,
possessed the failing of all others most trying to the youthful mind.
_She fussed_! She fussed about clothes, she fussed about food, she
fussed about draughts, she fussed about manners, deportment, speech, the
way you sat down, the way you got up, the way you laughed, yawned,
sneezed, crossed the room, and did your hair. From morning to night,
"My dear, _don't_!" or "My dear, _do_!" rang in Darsie's ears, till she
was almost beside herself with irritation.

Honestly and laboriously she tried to practise her father's advice: to
put the thought of the seaside party aside, make the most of the good
points of her own position, and "fight the good fight," but the effort
seemed to exhaust her physically, as well as mentally, until by the end
of the day she looked white and drooping, pathetically unlike her
natural glowing self. Aunt Maria noticed the change, and fussed about
that, too, but with an underlying tenderness that was upsetting to the
girl's strained nerves.

"You look very tired to-night, my dear! Are you not well? Is there
anything the matter?"

"Quite well, thank you. Only--lonely!" replied Darsie, with a plaintive
accent on that last word which brought Lady Hayes's glance upon her in
quic