is beyond me, I'm afraid; but I'll promise you to be neat
and tidy, and saints can do no more--if they happen to have been born
_plain_ saints, that's to say!"

Hannah stood in front of the mirror, staring back at her flat, square
face with an expression of serenely detached criticism.

"If you are the beauty of this college, I run a close race for the booby
prize! Bit of a handicap that, if you care about popularity. This
Sunday afternoon now! they'll all be buzzing round you like so many
flies, while I do wallflower in a corner. Nonsense to say that looks
don't count! So far as I can see, the difference between your face and
mine will probably make the difference in our lives. You'll marry a
lord of high degree, and I'll school marm and be maiden aunt."

"Oh, Hannah!" Darsie was acutely discomfited by such words from
Hannah's lips. True they were spoken in matter-of-fact tones, and
without the suspicion of a whine, but as the first instance of anything
approaching a lament, the occasion was historic. "Oh, Hannah, dear--
it's only at first! After the first no one cares a rap _what_ you look
like, so long as you're nice."

"Fal-de-ral!" cried Hannah scornfully. "Of course they care! Any one
would--should myself, but you needn't look so hang-dog, my dear. It's
not _your_ fault, and I am quite comfortable, thank you. If any man
ever wants to marry me, I'll know jolly well that it's for myself, and
that he really loves me through and through. There isn't any of the
glamour business about this child to make him imagine that he cares,
when it's only a passing phase. And if it's my lot to live alone, I'll
back myself to be as happy as most wives I come across. It's my own
big, splendid life, and I'm going to _make_ it splendid, or know the
reason why!" Hannah struck a dramatic gesture, danced a few fancy steps
in an elephantine manner, and stumped towards, the door. "So be it,
then! We accept with pleasure, and I'll leave you to trim your hat."

Whether or no any such embellishment did take place history sayeth not,
but it is certain that Darsie Garnett made a very charming picture on
the following Sunday afternoon, and that her dainty style of beauty
showed to peculiar advantage against the oak panelling of the stately
old room in which the head of --- College and his gracious, fragile-
looking wife dispensed tea to their guests.

The first few minutes after their arrival were rather an ordeal to the