."

"And you can't say you have had nobody. You have had Miss Perks," added
Cynthia slyly; but Mrs Vanburgh refused to be comforted, and wandered
disconsolately up and down the room, peering out of each of the three
windows in succession, and watching the clock with anxious dismay.

"Half-past four, and not one here! What can it mean? Three big Homes I
went to, and there must have been at least a score of inmates in each;
it isn't _possible_ that nobody will come!"

"In all the length and breadth of this great city, is there not _one_
governess who will take pity upon a hospitable lady!" quoted Cynthia
mischievously. It was evident that she also knew the source from which
had sprung the inspiration of these Saturday gatherings; but though Nan
laughed, it was with a somewhat uncertain sound, and her brown eyes
looked suspiciously moist. The two girls were quick to realise that it
was not a time for teasing, and hastened to give a safer turn to the
conversation.

In truth, Nan's heart was very deeply in her enterprise. Hers was one
of those sweet, generous natures which expand, instead of shrivelling
under the influence of prosperity. Just in proportion as her own life
was beautiful and hedged round with all the sweet fences of love, so did
she yearn more and more over her sisters whose lots were cast in such
different places--which is the true spirit of Christ, who left the very
heavens for our sakes. She had woven many happy dreams about these
afternoon meetings, seeing the radiance of her own happiness lighting up
dark places, and the power of love and sympathy cheering starved and
lonely lives, and was it all to end like this--in a joke for her husband
and these two girls? Would Gervase come home, and laugh his tender,
happy laugh, and stroke her hair, and call her "Poor little pet!" as if
she, and not the missing guests, was the real object of compassion?

Nan blinked the tears from her eyes, but they rose again and again--
tears of bitter disappointment; and then, just as the clock was about to
strike the quarter, there came another quick whirr of the electric bell,
and Cynthia, running out into the hall, came back aglow with excitement.

"It is! It _is_!" she hissed in an excited whisper. "I saw her. She's
coming upstairs. Quick! Quick! To your posts!"

Betty rushed to the fire, Nan stood in the middle of the floor radiant
with expectation. The servant threw open the door, and announced in
so