the neck. Peggy pinned on a
square of chiffon; but the numerous trimmings over which it lay gave a
clumsy appearance to her usually trim little figure, while discomfort
and annoyance steadily raised the colour in her cheeks. She was
conscious of appearing at her worst, and for one moment was tempted to
throw aside her plan, and take to ordinary evening-dress. Only for one
moment, however, for the next she decided roundly against so mean a
course. What if she had failed? her guest had succeeded, and why rob
her of praise well-earned? After all, would she not have been a hundred
times more distressed if positions had been reversed, and Eunice was
suffering her present discomfort? The cloud left her brow, and she led
the way downstairs with a jaunty air.

"Come along, come along! I've always vowed that I enjoyed a good
beating, and now I've got a chance of proving the truth of my words.
You are a born dressmaker, my dear, and the sooner I retire from the
business the better. You will be the hero of the occasion, and I shall
be the butt; but don't look so remorseful, I implore you. It has been a
great joke, and some day--years hence!--I may even see some humour in
the present condition of my arms. I'm accustomed to being teased, and
don't care one little bit how much they deride me!"

A moment later, as the drawing-room door opened, she realised indeed how
little she cared, for Rob was not there. His excuses had evidently
already been made, for no allusion was made to his absence, while her
own appearance with Eunice was the signal for a general rising, every
one exclaiming and applauding, and walking round in admiring circles.
Eunice was overwhelmed with congratulations, while Peggy had to run the
gauntlet of remorseless family banter.

Only one voice was raised in her behalf, but Hector Darcy declared with
unblushing effrontery that he voted in her favour, and held to his
decision, in spite of all that the others could say. Peggy deplored his
want of taste, yet felt a dreary sense of comfort in his fealty. It
soothed the ache at her heart, and made her so unconsciously gentle in
return that the major's hopes went up at a bound.

After dinner, chairs were carried into the verandah, and Peggy made no
demur when Hector set her seat and his own at a little distance from the
rest. Perhaps at heart she was even a little grateful to him for being
so anxious to enjoy her society, for no one else seemed to desire