. But if the first minute inside
the door could have been instantly exchanged for the last one
outside, it is probable that the young lady of Chickaree would
have disturbed no cabinet council over her that day. For with
the first sight of the very people she expected to find, there
rushed over her a horrible fear that Mr. Rollo would think she
had come to see _him!_--and that Mrs. Bywank would think so--and
(worst of all) that she thought so herself! But there was no
retreating now. So passing swiftly to the old housekeeper's
chair, and laying both hands on her shoulders to keep her in
it, Hazel stooped down to kiss her; and then straightening
herself up like a young arrow, she gave from behind Mrs.
Bywank a demure good-morning to Mr. Rollo.

That gentleman had not been so much engrossed with the
conversation as to have at all the air of being 'surprised,'
or he was too good a man of the world to shew it. He had
sprung up instantly as Wych Hazel came in, and now he came
round to where she stood to shake hands, looking very bright,
but as if her appearance was the simplest thing in the world.

'You have not had breakfast?' he said.

'I have had the opportunity. But you look altogether too
comfortable here, you and Mrs. Bywank!--As for me, I have been
breakfasting with two bears, and had nearly forgotten how
civilization acts.'

'My dear!' said Mrs. Bywank.--'Not "breakfasting"--when you were
coming here, Miss Wych?'

'Not much, Byo, to say the truth. I gave Mr. Falkirk _his_
coffee--hot and hot.'

'He didn't give you waffles,' said Rollo, making room for her
plate and cup upon the table. 'Mrs. Bywank, we must take care
of her. I shall never grumble at sending answers to
invitations after this.'

He was rendering little services and making himself variously
useful, with the air of a person more at home than she was:
drawing down a blind to keep the sun from her face, and
opening another window to let in the air and the view.

'Take care of me!' said Wych Hazel, with a look at the table
instead of at him, and then beginning to touch and mend things
generally to suit her fancy. 'It is very plain what _I_ have to
do! There is the jar of marmalade quite pushed out of reach.
And if you do not empty it, Mr. Rollo, Mrs. Bywank will think
you have not fulfilled the sweet promise of your earlier
years.'

'My dear!' remonstrated Mrs. Bywank, uneasily.

'I have satisfied her,' said Rollo, dryly. 'But there is a
lit