vy line of the eyebrows which seemed strangely
familiar, and she had a peculiar way of drawing in her lips, which
brought back a hundred misty recollections. Where had she seen that
face before? Hilary asked herself, staring fixedly at the stranger.
The stranger began to smile; a flash of recollection passed across each
face, and the next moment they were clasping hands, and exclaiming in
mutual recognition--

"Hilary!"

"Madge!"

"The idea of meeting you here! I haven't seen you since we were tiny
little dots at school. I thought you lived ever so far away--up in the
North of England."

"So we do; but we are here on a visit. Madge! how grown-up you are!
You are only six months older than I, but you look ever so much more
than that. How are you, and what are you doing, and how are all your
brothers and sisters? Lettice will be so interested to know I have seen
you."

"Dear Lettice, yes! She was a nice girl. So affectionate, wasn't she?
I should like to see her again. Perhaps I may, for father has taken a
house at Windermere for next summer, and if you are not far away, we
could often meet and go excursions together."

"Oh, how lovely! We are three miles from Windermere station, but we
have a pony carriage and bicycles, and could drive over to see you. Do
sit down, Madge. I don't know anyone here, and it is so dull sitting by
myself in a corner."

"I am afraid I can't. I am with mother, you see, and she doesn't like
to be left alone. Perhaps I shall see you again before I go!" And
Madge Newcome nodded, and strolled off in a careless, indifferent manner
which brought the blood to Hilary's face. Mrs Newcome was talking to a
group of friends and looked very well satisfied, so much so that Hilary
suspected that the daughter's anxiety had been more for herself than her
mother, and that Miss Madge did not appreciate the attractions of
sitting in a quiet corner.

"It's very unkind, when I told her I knew nobody; but she was a selfish
girl at school. She doesn't want to stay with me, that's the truth. I
wish this horrid afternoon would come to an end!" she told herself
dolefully, and it was with unconcealed delight that at last she heard
the sound of Mr Rayner's crutches, and welcomed that gentleman to a
seat by her side. He looked brighter than she had yet seen him, and had
evidently been enjoying himself upstairs.

"Well," he said cheerily, "here you are in the midst of the merry
throng! Have