er sneer.

"Ok yes, you'll pass for one of the quality," she had said. "No one would
take you for a child of mine any way."

"That's no fault of the child's, Lydia," her father had rejoined
good-humouredly, and in the car he had taken her little cold hand into
his and asked her kindly enough if she were happy.

She answered him tremulously in the affirmative, the dread of her mother
still so strong upon her that she could think of nothing but the relief
of escape. And then before she had time to prepare herself in any way for
the sudden transition she found herself back in that tropical, brilliant
atmosphere in which thenceforth she was to move and have her being.

She could not feel that she would ever shine there. There were so many
bright lights, and though her father was instantly and completely at home
she felt dazzled and strange, till all-unexpectedly someone came to her
through the great lamp-lit hall, haltingly yet with purpose, and held her
hand and asked her how she was.

The quiet grasp steadied her, and in a moment she was radiantly happy,
all her troubles and anxieties swept from her path. "Oh, Scott!" she
said, and her eyes beamed upon him the greeting her lips somehow refused
to utter.

He was laughing a little; his look was quizzical. "I have been on the
look-out for you," he told her. "It's the best man's privilege, isn't it?
Won't you introduce me to your father?"

She did so, and then Rose glided forward, exquisite in maize satin and
pearls, and smilingly detached her from the two men and led her upstairs.

"We are to have a little informal dance presently," she said. "Did I tell
you in my note? No? Oh, well, no doubt it will be a pleasant little
surprise for you. How very charming you are looking, my dear! I didn't
know you had it in you. Did you choose that pretty frock yourself?"

Dinah, with something of her mother's bluntness of speech, explained that
the creation in question had been Isabel's choice, and Rose smiled as one
who fully understood the situation.

"She has been very good to you, poor soul, has she not?" she said. "She
is not coming down to-night. The journey has fatigued her terribly. That
funny, old-fashioned nurse of hers has asked very particularly that she
may not be disturbed, except to see you for a few minutes later."

"Is she worse?" asked Dinah, startled.

Whereat Rose shook her dainty head. "Has she ever been better? No, poor
thing, I am afraid her days are nu