door--June--hung a
lovely cluster of crimson and white roses; while Dinah, who had
appropriated September, had a cluster of blackberries and traveller's
joy.

When Malcolm had taken possession of the guest-room--April--he had
gazed admiringly at a festoon of pink apple-blossoms over his door, but
when he had praised the novel adornment with his wonted enthusiasm, the
sisters modestly disclaimed all credit.

"It was not our idea," observed Elizabeth regretfully; "neither Dinah
nor I had the genius to evolve it. It was our friend, Mr. Leon Power.
You will know his name; his 'Andromache' was so much talked about last
year.'"

"Of course, every one knows Leon Power," returned Malcolm quickly. "A
friend of mine, Mr. Keston, quite swears by him."

"We know Mr. Keston's pictures well," observed Dinah in her placid way.
"I hear he is to have Mr. Logan's house for the summer, and then we
shall have the pleasure of making his acquaintance. I assure you, Mr.
Herrick, that it was all Mr. Power's idea. He used to come down for a
few days and paint a door at a time. We loved to sit in the gallery and
watch him. You have no idea how it interested us."

When Elizabeth, still carrying her antique lamp, passed swiftly down
the gallery, she paused as usual at her sister's door. Dinah was
sitting in a carved oak chair by the open window with a reading-lamp
beside her. Her evening dress was replaced by a white muslin wrapper,
which made her look younger than ever. The red edges of the St. Thomas
a Kempis that she had been reading was the only spot of colour about
her.

"You are later than usual, dear," she said gently. "Did you go all the
way to Rotherwood?"

"In this garb! My dear child, supposing I had met the vicar! Oh no, we
only walked to the usual trysting-place. Well, Dinah"--seating herself
in a comfortable easy-chair beside her--"what do you think of our new
friend?"

"I was going to ask you that question," returned her sister in a
disappointed voice. "I did so want to know your opinion; but you are so
dreadfully quick, Betty. Of course I like him; he is very gentlemanly
and agreeable, and I think clever."

"Oh, I should say there was no doubt of his cleverness." Then Dinah
brightened up as though she had received a personal compliment.

"I am so glad you think so. The society of a clever, cultured man like
Mr. Herrick must be so good for Cedric; and then he is so pleasant, and
has so much to say on every subject, and