this week-end," he said, going on at the
point at which their conversation was interrupted. "It was so good of
Lady Nottingham to ask me. You've got such nice aunts! I expect that
accounts for a lot in you. Ever seen my aunts, Miss Daisy? They've got
whiskers, and take camomile."

"It sounds delicious, and I'm sure I should love them," said Daisy.--"So
sorry, Mr. Tracy, but I seem to have made a mistake, and I'm engaged for
the next. So very stupid of me.--I know, Lord Lindfield; isn't Aunt
Alice a darling? But, although I adore her, I think I adore Aunt Jeannie
more. Do you know her--Mrs. Halton?"

Lindfield gave a little appreciative whistle.

"Know her? By Jove! I should think I did. So she's your aunt, too! I
never heard such luck! But she's a bit young to be an aunt, isn't she?"

Daisy laughed.

"She began early. She was my mother's sister, but ever so much younger.
She was an aunt when she was eight. My eldest sister, you know----"

"Didn't know you had one."

"Very likely you wouldn't. She died some years ago, and before that she
didn't live in England. She was married to a Frenchman. But Aunt
Jeannie--isn't she an angel? And she came back from Italy, where she has
been for a whole year, only to-day. It's the nicest thing that has
happened since she went away."

"You mean that was nice?"

"Oh, don't be so silly! It is quite clear what I mean. You'll see her
next week; she is coming down to Bray."

"Wonder if she'll remember me? The people I like most hardly ever do.
Rather sad! I say, Miss Daisy, I'm looking forward to that visit to
Bray like anything. I don't know when I've looked forward to anything so
much. Are you good at guessing? I wonder if you can guess why?"

The room where they sat had somewhat emptied of its tenants, since the
next dance had just begun, and something in his tone, some sudden
tremble of his rather deep voice, some brightness in those merry grey
eyes, suddenly struck Daisy, and just for the moment it frightened her.
She put all her gaiety and lightness into her reply.

"Ah, but clearly," she said, "it is quite easy to guess. It is because
you will see Aunt Jeannie again. You have told me as much."

"Not quite right," he said, "but pretty near. Bother! Here's that woman
coming to ask me to lunch again."

The good humour quite vanished from his face as Mrs. Streatham came
rapidly towards them. She had so much to think about with all her
invitations that she very seldom re