everything that should have been a curve into a line; she was thick-set,
clumsy, awkward in gait, her eyes were small, her mouth was large, she
had a meagre wisp of putty-coloured hair, and preposterously thick
eyebrows several shades darker in hue, and no eyelashes at all. Friends
and relations lavished much pity on poor dear Hannah's unfortunate
looks, but never a sigh did Hannah breathe for herself. She was strong
and healthy, her sturdy limbs stood her in good stead in the various
games and sports in which she delighted, and she would not have
exchanged her prowess therein for all the pink cheeks and golden locks
in the world. Hannah's manner, like her appearance, lacked grace and
charm; it was abrupt, forceful, and to the point. She spoke now, chin
sunk in her grey flannel blouse, arms wrapped round her knees--

"Is she coming to see you before she chooses, or will it be done by
post?"

"She's coming! Two days next week. Isn't it too awful? We were so
happy--the telegraph up, and the weather jolly, and holidays nearly
here. `All unsuspecting of their doom the little victims played.' And
then--_this_! Holidays with Aunt Maria! Even the third of a chance
turns me cold with dismay. I couldn't bear--"

"You won't need to. She won't have you. She'll choose Darsie."

Darsie squealed in shrillest protest--

"No, no! It's not fair. She won't! She can't! It's always the eldest
or the youngest. I'm the middle--the insignificant middle. Why should
she choose me?"

"You are not so modest as a rule! You know perfectly well that
strangers always _do_ take more notice of you than any one else. You
are always the one who is fussed over and praised."

"Because I want to be! This time I shan't. I'll be just as sulky and
horrid as I can for the whole blessed time."

"You'll be there anyway, and you can't alter your face."

"My fatal beauty!" wailed Darsie, and wrung her hands in impassioned
fashion. Then she looked critically from one sister to another, and
proceeded to candid criticisms of their charms.

"Clemence is not pretty, but she's _nice_! If she did her hair better,
and sat up, and had a colour, and didn't poke her chin, she'd look quite
decent. I should think it would be interesting to take some one who
_needed_ improving, and see what you could do. Lavender's gawky, of
course, girls _are_ gawky at her age, but I shouldn't wonder if she grew
quite decent-looking in time. Rest and qui