ed her throat, and said in
her most courteous tones--

"I am sorry. Would you kindly tell James what you would like instead.
Tea--coffee--soup? A warm drink would be better than milk this
morning."

"Nothing, thank you."

"Nothing, James! You may go."

James departed. Aunt Maria went on with her knitting, the click-click
of the needles sounding startlingly distinct in the silent room. Darsie
sat shamed and miserable, now that her little ebullition of spleen was
over, acutely conscious of the rudeness of her behaviour. For five
minutes by the clock the silence lasted; but in penitence, as in fault,
there was no patience in Darsie's nature, and at the end of the five
minutes the needlework was thrown on the floor, and with a quick light
movement she was on her knees by Lady Hayes's side.

"Aunt Maria, forgive me. I'm a pig!"

"Excuse me, my dear, you are mistaken. You are a young gentlewoman who
has failed to behave as such."

"Oh, Aunt Maria, don't, _don't_ be proper!" pleaded Darsie, half-
laughing, half in tears. "I _am_ a pig, and I behaved as much, and
you're a duchess and a queen, and I can't imagine how you put up with me
at all. I wonder you don't turn me out of doors, neck and crop!"

Lady Hayes put down her knitting and rested her right hand lightly on
the girl's head, but she did not smile; her face looked very grave and
sad.

"Indeed, Darsie, my dear," she said slowly, "that is just what I am
thinking of doing. Not `neck and crop'--that's an exaggerated manner of
speaking, but, during the last few days I have been coming to the
conclusion that I made a mistake in separating you from your family. I
thought too much of my own interests, and not enough of yours." She
smiled, a strained, pathetic little smile. "I think I hardly realised
how _young_ you were! One forgets. The years pass by; one falls deeper
and deeper into one's own ways, one's own habits, and becomes
unconscious of different views, different outlooks. It was a selfish
act to take a young thing away from her companions on the eve of a
summer holiday. I realise it now, my dear; rather late in the day,
perhaps, but not too late! I will arrange that you join your family at
the sea before the end of the week."

Darsie gasped, and sat back on her heels, breathless with surprise and
dismay. Yes! dismay; extraordinary though it might appear, no spark of
joy or expectation lightened the shocked confusion of her mind. We ca