dy."

"I 'spect," said Tony, thoughtfully, "my Daddie took them. He'd never
leave without takin somefin."

* * * * *

There was a dinner-party at the Manor House. Peter had come down from
town for it, and this time he was staying at Wren's End. Lady Penelope
and her husband were to dine and sleep at the Manor, likewise Miles, who
had come down with Peter; and Lady Pen contrived thoroughly to upset her
aunt before dinner, by relating how she had met Miles with Miss Morton
and her father in Cheltenham. And poor Lady Mary had been hoping that
the unfortunate affair would die a natural death. She had asked the
prettiest girl in the neighbourhood for Miles to take in, and now,
looking down the table at him, she would have said he was as
well-pleased with his neighbour as any young man could be. The Freams
were there and Mr. Withells, the pretty girl's mamma and a bride and
bridegroom--fourteen in all. A dangerous number to ask, the Squire had
declared; one might so easily have fallen through. No one did, however,
and Peter found himself allotted to Lady Penelope, while Jan's fate was
the bridegroom. "His wife won't be jealous of Miss Ross, you know," Lady
Mary had said while arranging her couples.

It happened that Peter sat opposite to Jan, and he surveyed her across
the sweet-peas with considerable satisfaction. He had never seen Jan in
what her niece bluntly called "a nekked dless" before. To-night she wore
black, in some soft, filmy stuff from which her fine arms and shoulders
and beautiful neck stood out in challenging whiteness. Her hair, too,
had "pretty twinkly things" in it, and she wore a long chain of small
but well-matched pearls, her father's last gift to her. Yes, Jan was
undoubtedly distinguished, and oh, thank heaven! she _had_ a clean face.

Beautiful Lady Pen was painted to the eyes, and her maid was not quite
skilful in blending her complexion rightly with her vivid hair;
beautiful hair it was, with a large ripple that was most attractive, but
Mr. Withells, sitting on the other side of Lady Pen, decided that he
didn't approve of her. She was flamboyant and daring of speech. She made
him nervous. He felt sincerely sorry for Pottinger.

Peter found Lady Pen very amusing, and perhaps she rather neglected her
other neighbour.

The dinner was excellent and long; and after it the ladies, when they
left the men to smoke, strolled about on the terrace, and Jan found
herself s