s had little natural insight, and
was, besides, so wrapped up in her own interests, that she was as blind
as a bat to what was passing around. She came forward, smiling and
blushing, and Maud kissed her, as was expected, and murmured words of
congratulation, feeling meantime that this very unconsciousness would be
her greatest assistance in the difficult time to come.

"I've heard all about it, Lilias. I hope you will be very happy. It is
really all settled, and you are engaged?"

"Yes--no! Not formally, I mean. Mother won't consent to anything
definite until she has consulted with father; but, of course, we,"--
Lilias dimpled and smiled seraphically over the unaccustomed word--"we
feel that it is settled. We are quite sure of ourselves, at least."

"Then I'd get married as soon as you could if I were you, in case you
changed," said Agatha darkly. "You do change most awfully, Lilias, you
know. When you bought your last hat you said it was a `simple love,'
and the next month you pulled it all to pieces. And you used to adore
Fanny Newby, and now you go out of the side door when you see her
coming. Get married in summer and have a rose wedding, and we'll all be
bridesmaids. I pine to be a bridesmaid, with everything new from head
to foot, and no nasty old clothes to wear out. That's the worst of
being number five! I never have everything new at once. There's always
a hat, or a jacket, or a blouse that has to be finished off. Let's sit
down and talk about it now! There's half an hour before lunch, and it's
impossible to do any work. Maud, sit down and take off your hat, and
let's be comfy!"

"No, she can't. I want her! I don't care who is going to be married;
I'm ill, and I want Maud to nurse me. My head is smashing. I believe
it's sunstroke, for I sat out yesterday without a hat. I shall go crazy
in a moment if somebody doesn't do something!" cried Nan loudly; and her
sisters stared in dismay at her flushed, heated face. It was so evident
that she was in pain that even Agatha submitted to a postponement of the
longed-for "talk," and the conclave broke up for the time being, the
sisters separating, to go off in various directions: Lilias to be petted
and cross-questioned by the two schoolgirls; Elsie to indite a
melancholy entry in her diary, beginning, "Yet another example of the
strange intermingling of joy and pain": and Maud to lead Nan to her own
room, and devote herself to the work of nursin