wiend,"
she murmured caressingly. "Evewybody is asking for invitations, and it
would not do to encroach too far on Lady B's hospitality. Another time,
when Peggy is not going, I should be delighted to take you with me--"

"But, Rosalind, I can't go on Friday. I am dreadfully disappointed, for
it is just the sort of thing I should love, and if I had only an
ordinary engagement I would put it off, but it is not. An old school-
friend of mother's is coming up from the country especially to see us,
and we could not possibly put her off, as we have already had no end of
difficulty to fix a day. Letters and telegrams have been flying to and
fro, and if we altered the date there is no saying when we should meet.
I am very, very sorry, but it is impossible to go with you."

"But surely you could be spared for the afternoon! You would see your
fwiend in the morning, and at dinner--"

"She won't arrive until lunch-time, and must leave again at six o'clock.
She will travel four hours in the train just to spend the afternoon
with us, so I could not possibly go out; but there is no reason why
Mellicent should stay in too. She could go instead of me."

Peggy would not have ventured to make such a suggestion had not
Rosalind's own protestations opened the way, but as it was she felt no
diffidence in making it, and the change from despair to rapture on her
friend's expressive face went far to console her for her own
disappointment. But if Mellicent's expression was significant,
Rosalind's was even more so. Her lips tightened, the colour deepened in
her cheeks, and her eyes sent forth an unmistakable gleam of vexation.
She hated being forced into an unpleasant position, but there was one
thing which she would hate even more--to be obliged to take a dowdily
dressed, countrified-looking visitor to one of the social events of the
season, and at all risks this must be avoided. Mellicent would probably
be offended, Peggy furious, Arthur pained and disappointed--she knew it
beforehand, and lamented the knowledge; but, as Arthur had said, the
bent of a lifetime is too strong to be overcome in a moment. Rosalind
would have been ready to protest that she cared a hundred times more for
her friends' feelings than for her own dignity, but when it came to the
test she sacrificed them without hesitation in the interest of selfish
pride.

"I am sowwy, but if you cannot go, Peggy, I think we had better leave it
alone for the pwesent. S