ed and sparkled
with animation as she spoke, and there was a certain stateliness of
carriage that made some of her acquaintances term her proud.

Clare was toying absently with her spoon and tea-cup; she was
listening, and occasionally put in a word, but her thoughts were
evidently elsewhere. She had not the determination in her face that
was Gwendoline's characteristic; and perhaps the varying expressions
passing over it, and so transparent to those who knew her, formed her
chief charm. There was a wistfulness in her dark blue eyes, and a look
of expectation that one longed to see fulfilled; and her dreamy
preoccupied manner often made her friends wonder if she spent all her
time in dreamland.

Elfrida sat on the hearth-rug with her sunny hair glistening in the
firelight. She was the youngest and prettiest of the four, and had
only just returned from Germany that same day. It was her eager
questioning that was making them all linger over their tea.

'But I don't understand,' she said, a little impatiently. 'How does
Cousin James happen to be here at all? Aunt Mildred never cared for
him. She said last year when I was home that he was a regular screw,
and that he only came on a visit to save his housekeeping bills. Now I
come back and find dear Aunt Mildred gone, and he in full possession of
our home, ready to turn us out to-morrow, you say! Aunt Mildred always
told us we should never want after her death.'

'We shall not actually do that,' said Agatha quietly, 'for she has left
us a legacy each, which will at any rate keep the wolf from the door.'

'But hasn't she left us Dane Hall? She always said she would.'

'No; a codicil to that will has been added since James has been here.'

'Yes; he has managed it beautifully,' put in Gwendoline, with scorn in
her tone. 'He came down here directly he heard she was ill, and
established himself in the dressing-room next to hers. Clare has been
away, but Agatha and I were virtually shut out of the sick-room from
the time he entered the house. He got a trained nurse; said Agatha was
worn out, and must rest; and told Nannie she was too old and too
near-sighted to be left alone with her mistress. The poor old soul has
been weeping her eyes out since! Then he took advantage of Aunt
Mildred's state of weakness, and worried and coaxed her into making
this unjust codicil. All in his favour, of course; I don't believe
poor aunt knew what she was doing. And we shall