sweet and fresh as she walked into the drawing-room, with a flush of
self-conscious pleasure on her cheeks, and her father gave a start of
surprise as he saw her.

"So! My little girl!" Miss Carr was not yet in the room, and he took
Hilary by the hands, holding her out at arm's length, and looking down
at her with grave, tender eyes. "It's very nice, dear. I'm proud of
you!" Then drawing her to him, and kissing her on the forehead, "We
must be great friends, you and I, my big daughter. This is the
beginning of a new life for you, but you will not grow to think less of
the old home and the old friends?"

"No, no, father! no, never!" Hilary spoke in a quick, breathless
whisper, and there was an unusual moisture in her eyes. Her father saw
that she was nervous and excited, and hastened to change the subject
before there was any danger of a breakdown. The door opened at this
moment to admit Miss Carr, and he advanced to meet her holding Hilary's
hand in his, in the high, stately fashion in which a knight of old led
out his partner in the gavotte.

"Miss Hilary Maud Everette Bertrand--at your service. And many thanks
to the good fairy who has worked the transformation!"

"Humph!" said Mrs Carr, shortly. "Fine feathers make fine birds.
There's the gong for dinner, and if you two are not hungry, I am, so let
us get the serious business over first, and then I'll have a look at the
fineries." Then, after her usual fashion, she slipped her hand through
the girl's arm and led her affectionately across the hall. "Sweet
seventeen! Ah, dear me, I wonder how many years ago it is since I went
out in my first white dress? I was a pretty girl then, my dear, though
you may not think it to look at me now, and I remember my excitement as
if it were yesterday."

When the carriage came to the door two hours later on, Hilary wrapped
herself up in fleecy shawls and went into the drawing-room to bid her
hostess good-night, but she was not allowed to take her departure so
easily. Miss Carr protested that she was not wrapped up sufficiently,
and sent upstairs for a hood and a pair of hideous scarlet worsted
bedroom slippers, which she insisted upon drawing over the dainty white
satin shoes. Hilary protested, but she was not allowed to have a say in
the matter.

"Nonsense, my dear; it's a bitterly cold night, and you have half an
hour's drive. We can't have you catching cold, just to have your feet
looking pretty in a dark