e unknown musician did not
weaken the effect by playing another air; and Cecil towards morning fell
into an unrefreshing slumber, in which her dreams seemed to parody the
day's adventures.

Sometimes she was struggling in the water; and then the scene
changed--she was being married in a small church, or rather it more
resembled the white-washed room at the station. Bertie was presenting her
with a rose instead of a ring, while she was trying to conceal 'neath the
folds of her bridal dress her feet encased in shapeless Balmorals. Then
Colonel Rolleston suddenly appeared and forbade the ceremony to proceed,
while the bridegroom seemed to have changed into Fane, and Bertie, as
best-man, slowly chanted--

"Fare thee well, thou lovely one.
Lovely still, but dear no more."

"Cecil," cried a gay voice, "are you singing in your sleep? Get up. It's
my birthday," said Lola, energetically shaking her shoulder.

"Oh, Lola, is it you? I am so glad you woke me! Many happy returns, my
child. Have you had any presents?"

"Oh, yes, pretty good ones. I put my stocking out last night, and it was
stuffed. A white mouse from Fred in it, too. It ran away and up the
bell-rope, and we have been catching it ever since; but," hanging her
head, "there was nothing from you, Cecil."

"Well, Lola," remorsefully, "it is never too late to mend. Would you like
a locket? Fetch my dressing-case and you shall choose one."

Cecil was too happy herself that morning not to be amiable to others, and
Lola was her favourite; so she would not hurry her, and waited patiently
the child's indecision and chatter as she turned over the trinkets.

"Actually Miss Prosody gave me a dictionary; horrid of her, wasn't it?
Perhaps she'll ask me to say a column a morning. I think I'll leave it by
accident on one of the islands."

"I'll buy it of you," said Cecil, smiling. "I don't think I learned
columns enough when I was a child."

"Likely you'd do it now, though, as you are not obliged! Well, Cecil, I
think I'll take this dear little blue one with a pearl cross on. It is
such a hot day! What dress are you going to wear? It must be a pretty
one, because it is my birthday."

Cecil smiled contentedly. It was the birthday of something besides
Lola--the dawn of a new life to herself. "Here, miss will this do?" asked
she, holding up a fresh grey muslin for her sister's inspection.

"Middling," discontentedly, "Bluebell looks well in those cool, simple
dress