much
for me, that I can refuse you nothing. It will be a lifelong advantage
to the child, and I know you will make her happy."

"I will, indeed; and you may trust me, Austin, to consider more than
mere happiness. I will do my best to make her such a woman as her dear
mother was before her."

"I know you will. Thank you, Helen. And which--which--?"

"Nay, I am not going to tell you that." Miss Carr had brushed the tears
from her eyes, and with them all signs of her unusual emotion. She was
herself again--sharp, decisive, matter-of-fact. "I must have my choice,
of course; but I will take a week to make up my mind. And she must be
left entirely in my hands for the time being, remember! I shall look
after her clothes, education, pleasuring, as if she were my own child.
There must be no interference."

"Obstinate woman! Who would dare to enter the lists against you?" cried
Mr Bertrand between a laugh and a sigh. "Heigho! Which of my little
lasses am I going to lose? Whichever it is, I shall feel she is the
last I could spare, and shall bear you a grudge for your choice. Can't
you give me a hint?"

"No! and I wouldn't if I could. I'll tell you when I am ready," said
Miss Carr coolly. And that settled the question for the time being.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

A TETE-A-TETE.

During the next few days the girls could not help noticing a peculiar
contradiction in their father's manner towards themselves. He was
alternately demonstratively affectionate and unreasonably irritable. He
snubbed Norah's performance on the violin, scolded Lettice because she
was wearing white dresses instead of her old blue serge, and called
attention to flaws in the housekeeping in a manner which sent the iron
into Hilary's soul. And then, when a chance meeting occurred on the
landing or stairs, he would throw his arms round them and kiss them over
and over again with passionate tenderness.

"Something is happening, but I haven't the remotest idea what it is,"
said Norah to her sisters; and it added to their curiosity to notice
that Miss Carr was openly amused at their father's demeanour, while he
was as evidently embarrassed by her quizzical smiles.

Mr Bertrand had decided to say nothing of Miss Carr's invitation until
that lady had made her final choice; but when the third day came he
could restrain himself no longer, and taking the girls aside he
proceeded to inform them of the new life which was before one of their
n