such a lot. And what a lot you will have
to tell me; I shall want to know exactly what you have done, and whether
you've been wise and good and kind, and what new friends you have. I
shall want to see them all, and make friends with them all. And I shall
want to know all your plans. Just think, Daisy, it's a year since I saw
you."

"I know, but I don't believe it. Oh, Aunt Jeannie, you must come down to
Bray for Whitsuntide. Gladys and I go to-morrow just to look round and
see that everything is all right, and you and Aunt Alice are to come the
next day with all the party, and it will be such fun. Oh! I've got such
a lot to tell you."

Daisy paused a moment.

"I think I mean quite the opposite," she said. "I don't think that I've
anything whatever to tell you that's of the very smallest importance. I
only just want to babble and be glad. I am glad, oh, so frightfully
glad! You are the nicest aunt that anybody ever had."

Daisy poured out tea for her aunt, and considering her admission that
she had nothing to say, made a very substantial job of it. Yet all the
time she was talking with a reservation, having clearly made up her mind
not to mention Lord Lindfield's name. She felt sure, if she did, Aunt
Jeannie would see that she mentioned him somehow differently from the
way in which she mentioned others, and these first moments of meeting,
for all the sincerity of her joy to see her, struck her as not suitable
for confidences.

"Another reason why I wanted half an hour with you," she said, "is that
I am dining out to-night, and shan't see you. It is quite too
disgusting, but I couldn't help myself; and if one dines out one
probably dances, you know, so after this I shan't see you at all till
to-morrow. Oh, Aunt Jeannie, what a nice world it is! I am glad I
happened to be born. And you are looking so young, I can't think why
everybody doesn't want to marry you at once. They probably do."

Mrs. Halton's engagement was at present a secret, for it was still only
just a year since her husband's death, and though that had been a
release merciful both to him and her, her wisdom had rightly decided
that the event should not be announced yet. They were to be married in
the autumn, and the news need not be made public immediately. One
reservation she had made, namely, that she would tell Lady Nottingham;
but Daisy, even Daisy, must not know at present.

She laughed.

"They have a remarkable power of keeping their desires