ook promising?' inquired Agnes.

'I don't think I noticed,' said Catherine simply, but with a momentary
change of expression. The sisters, remembering how she had come in upon
them with that look of one 'lifted up,' understood why she had not
noticed, and refrained from further questions.

'Well, it is to be hoped the young man is recovered enough to stand Long
Whindale festivities,' said Rose. 'Mrs. Thornburgh means to let them
loose on his devoted head to-morrow night.'

'Who are coming?' asked Mrs. Leyburn eagerly. The occasional tea parties
of the neighbourhood were an unfailing excitement to her, simply
because, by dint of the small adornings, natural to the occasion, they
showed her daughters to her under slightly new aspects. To see
Catherine, who never took any thought for her appearance, forced to
submit to a white dress, a line of pearls round the shapely throat, a
flower in the brown hair, put there by Rose's imperious fingers; to sit
in a corner well out of draughts, watching the effect of Rose's
half-fledged beauty, and drinking in the compliments of the
neighbourhood on Rose's playing or Agnes's conversation, or Catherine's
practical ability--these were Mrs. Leyburn's passions, and a tea party
always gratified them to the full.

'Mamma asks as if really she wanted an answer,' remarked Agnes drily.
'Dear mother, can't you by now make up a tea party at the Thornburghs
out of your head?'

'The Seatons?' inquired Mrs. Leyburn.

'_Mrs._ Seaton and Miss Barks,' replied Rose. 'The rector won't come.
And I needn't say that, having moved heaven and earth to get Mrs.
Seaton, Mrs. Thornburgh is now miserable because she has got her. Her
ambition is gratified, but she knows that she has spoilt the party.
Well, then, Mr. Mayhew, of course, his son, _and_ his flute.'

'You to play his accompaniments?' put in Agnes slily. Rose's lip curled.

'Not if Miss Barks knows it,' she said emphatically, 'nor if I know it.
The Bakers, of course, ourselves, and the unknown.'

'Dr. Baker is always pleasant,' said Mrs. Leyburn, leaning back and
drawing her white shawl languidly round her. 'He told me the other day,
Catherine, that if it weren't for you he should have to retire. He
regards you as his junior partner. "Marvellous nursing gift your eldest
daughter has, Mrs. Leyburn," he said to me the other day. A most
agreeable man.'

'I wonder if I shall be able to get any candid opinions out of Mr.
Elsmere the day after to-