el husband" said Helen.

"I'm sure I will" laughed Cyril and with that they got up to walk home.

At the bottom of the hill they spied Mr. Winston. He looked up as he
saw them coming and waved his hand furiously.

When they met Mr. Winston he turned directly to Helen, "what do you
think Helen, I've furnished the attic all by myself, the only thing
Marshland did was to scrub the floor and nail up the curtains."

"How nice" said Helen "but father I've something far more important to
tell you."

"Dont say it my child" said the old man "your faces tell me what it is
and I give my consent on the spot."

And he plunged his stick into the ground to mark the vehemance of his
words.

CHAPTER 5

GLADYS LINCARROL

The week that followed that day was a happy one indeed. Helen and Cyril
were more together than ever and then too each day brought it nearer to
when Gladys was to come.

At last Monday morning came, and Helen was so excited she could hardly
eat her dinner, and Mr. Winston got quite cross when she refused some
beautiful cherry pie.

"Do hurry up father" exclaimed Helen at last, "I want to have the room
nice and tidy for Gladys and Mr. Palsey."

"My dear I wont starve for any amount of grand ladies" replied Mr.
Winston heartily.

Helen smiled languidly and began to arrange the flower stand by the
window.

At 4 o'clock precisely a dainty little dog cart drew up at Beach Dale.
Helen, peeping from behind the drawing room curtains, saw, first a tall
man dressed in a blue suit and black hat and gloves, jump down from the
cart and hold out his hand to a young lady who tripped lightly down and
tossed a silver coin to the coachman.

The next moment the drawing room door was flung open and Marshland's
clear voice was heard announcing, "Miss Lincarrol--Mr. Palsey."

"Oh dear Gladys, I am so delighted to see you" cried Helen in her
sweetest tones.

"And I am equally glad to meet you" cried Gladys, "and allow me to
introduce my future husband James Palsey."

"How do you do" said Mr. Palsey gravely as he held out his well gloved
hand.

At that minute Mr. Winston entered the room dressed in his best things.

"Well Gladys my dear and how are you he cried cheerfully "what a big
person you are to be sure, quite half a head taller than Helen I
declare."

Gladys laughed affectedly and held out her small hand; she then
introduced Mr. Palsey, who, during all this merriment had stood as grave
as a judge.