, it was not brown; but rather a blending of all three colours. It
was, moreover, extraordinarily thick, and stood out from the head in a
crisp mass, rippling into big natural waves, while behind each ear was a
broad streak of a lighter shade, almost flaxen in colour. No artificial
means could have produced such an effect; it was obviously the work of
nature. "American nature!" Miss Briskett told herself with a sniff. A
respectably brought-up English girl could never have possessed such a
head! Underneath this glorious mass of hair was a pale, little face,
lighted up by a pair of golden-brown eyes. The eyebrows were well-
marked and remarkably flexible; the nose was thin and pointed, a
youthful replica of Miss Briskett's own. The only really good feature
was the mouth, and that was adorable, with coral red lips curling up at
the corners; tempting, kissable lips, made for love and laughter. For
the rest, it was difficult to understand how a plain blue serge gown
could possibly contrive to look so smart, or how those tiniest of tiny
brown boots had managed to keep so dazzlingly free from dust throughout
a railway journey.

Miss Briskett sat herself down by the tea-table, and cleared her throat
ominously. Her niece had not been ten minutes in the house, yet already
an occasion had arisen for a serious rebuke.

"Are you engaged to that young man, may I ask, Cornelia?"

Cornelia gave a little jump upon her seat, and opened her golden eyes in
a stare of amazement.

"Mussy, no! What in the land put such an idea in your head?"

"Your tone and manner, my dear, and the fact of his accompanying you all
the way from town. It is not usual for young men to put themselves to
so much trouble for a mere acquaintance."

"He don't think it a trouble. He loves flying around! He's a sweet
thing," said Miss Cornelia, with smiling recollection, "but he's not my
Chubb! I'm sorry he couldn't stay to tea, for he's real amusing when he
once gets started. He'd have made you screech with laughter."

Miss Briskett looked down her nose, in her most dignified and rebuking
fashion.

"I am not accustomed to `screech' about anything, and in this country,
my dear, it is not considered convenable for young girls to accept the
escort of a gentleman to whom they are not engaged. No English girl
would think of doing such a thing!"

"They must have a middling dull time of it," retorted Cornelia, calmly,
"I must teach them a thing or