folk, and
I write to ask if you would pay us a visit from Monday next to Tuesday
the 30th. We expect to have several big shoots during the week, and as
you are distinctly the most presentable of the family, and your musical
abilities can be usefully employed in providing free amusement for my
guests, I think you will be quite a valuable addition to our
house-party. You will find the 11:15 a convenient train, and we will
send to the station to meet you, if we have no better use for the
carriages."

"_Madge_!" cried Hope, aghast.

"What an extraordinary letter!" gasped Philippa, too much stunned by
surprise to protest. "Give it to me. Let me see."

Madge handed it over, with a shrug of the shoulders and a slow,
whimsical smile.

"Oh, well," she admitted, "that's not a literal rendering. I read
between the lines and found the true meaning. Aunt Loftus is all
politeness, of course. `You don't look strong--would be better for a
change. Can leave London more easily than your sisters. Be sure to
bring plenty of music.' But my reading is the right one, all the same.
Bah! Sickening! If you want to be mean, _be_ mean, and don't try to
wrap it up in the form of philanthropy. _I_ might be as ill as _I_
liked, but I should never be asked. Your face is your fortune, Hope.
Make the most of it before you grow old and ugly."

"I won't go. I shall write and refuse," said Hope quickly; for she had
noticed a shadow fall across Theo's face, and divined the reason of its
presence. Theo would not grudge her a pleasure, but from a professional
point of view, could not help wishing that the invitation had fallen to
her own share. Life at a shooting-box would be a new experience, a
useful background for future stories; and the guests would supply the
young author with the opportunity of valuable character-study.
Unfortunately Theo's talent was not of value to a hostess, and she was
conscious that her chance of an invitation to her uncle's shooting-box
was not much greater than that of Madge herself. For a moment she was
silent, battling against a host of conflicting emotions; then she said
bravely:

"You must go, Hope; it is your duty. You may meet people who will take
an interest in you and be able to help you on, and we can't afford to
lose opportunities. You can take your own compositions, and sing them
whenever you have a chance; it will be quite an advertisement in a small
way."

"It seems mean to pay a visit w