would say--"a laugh helps
digestion;" but in spite of his philosophic theories, many secret
dainties found their way into the Keston larder, and were regarded
doubtfully and with awe by an anxious young housekeeper.

Anna felt a little quickening of excitement as they walked up the
flagged path--she could not look indifferently at the house where
Malcolm lived. It seemed an age to both of them before the door was
opened. Malcolm had knocked twice, and was meditating a third assault,
when they heard footsteps, and the next moment a little brown girl
appeared on the threshold with a child in her arms.

"I am so sorry, Mr. Herrick, but Hepsy has just gone for the milk," she
whispered to Malcolm, who did not seem a bit surprised by the
intelligence.

He had grown used to these domestic episodes. The milkman was generally
late, and Hepsy, otherwise Hephzibah, was for ever on his track with a
yellow jug in her hand; they called it the "Hunting of the Snark," for
they were wont to treat the minor accidents of life in a playful
fashion.

"Anna, this is Mrs. Keston," observed Malcolm--"my friend Verity, and
Babs." Then Anna, in some confusion and much astonishment, shook hands
with this very singular young person.

Verity! could this be the Verity that Malcolm had eulogised with such
enthusiasm--this little brown girl who was regarding her so gravely and
fixedly?

Anna was obliged to own afterwards that her appearance had given her a
shock. She was so small and sallow and insignificant, and her short
curly hair was parted on one side like a boy, and cropped quite closely
behind. The baby was small and brown too, a tiny edition of herself,
and they both had dark eyes that looked preternaturally solemn; Babs,
indeed, wore an injured expression, and a puckered look of anguish
spoke of the pangs of hunger and the delinquencies of milkmen.

"Babs wants her tea," observed Verity cheerfully; "I am going to give
her a crust to amuse her. Will you bring Miss Sheldon into the studio,
Mr. Herrick? Amias will be so pleased to see her, though he is very
busy. I know your name," she continued smilingly to Anna--she had a
fresh clear voice that sounded pleasantly on Anna's ear; "I have heard
so much about you, that of course I recognised you directly, though Mr.
Herrick did not introduce you properly."

Verity spoke with so much ease and frankness that Anna began to feel
interested in her; she seemed so utterly oblivious of her shabb