eal. "They won't want us to stay here and
interrupt the game. I think we had better make a move."

"But may we? Would Uncle Bernard like it?"

"May we! Are we not told to amuse ourselves in any way we choose? Of
course we may," he replied laughingly, leading the way forward, while
the others followed, nothing loth.

The conservatory opened out of the drawing-room by means of a long glass
door, which, being shut, made it into a separate room. A room it was,
rather than the ordinary glass passage, for it had a wide, open floor,
broken only by spreading palms standing in wooden boxes, and in the
midst an old-fashioned pink camellia-tree. Stands of flowers encircled
three sides, and a lamp stood out from the walls in a bracket. Given a
few rugs and accessories, it would have made an ideal lounge. As it
was, there was no provision for visitors, and it was evident that no one
but the gardener took the trouble to enter. Mr Druce looked round
rapidly, spied a wooden box under one stand, a stool under another, and
brought them forward one after another, flicking off the dust with his
handkerchief.

"You must have something to sit on. Can you manage with these, or shall
I bring chairs from the drawing-room? I don't want to make a noise if I
can help it."

"No, no; please don't! These will do perfectly. But what will you do,
and Mr Melland? You must not stand all the time."

"Oh, don't trouble about us! We can look after ourselves," responded
Jack Melland, pushing the flower-pots nearer together on the staging,
and lightly swinging himself into the vacant space. Victor followed his
example, and thrust his hands into his pockets.

For the next few minutes silence reigned while the young men took in and
quite obviously admired the charming picture made by the two girlish
figures against the background of flowering plants.

Ruth's stool had been placed against the camellia-tree, and the pink
blooms matched the soft flush in her cheeks, and relieved the sombreness
of her black attire. Thus placed she looked charmingly pretty, and held
herself with an air of dignity, which was a new accomplishment.

Ruth was an adaptive creature, tremendously influenced by the
surroundings of the moment. At home her little head was wont to droop
with despondency, and the consciousness that she was poor and unknown
and shabbily dressed. At the Court she was intensely, delightfully
assured of being Miss Farrell--of possessin