e and entertain a deaf old woman like myself. But all
the same, I am the better for having her. Her vivacious personality
cheers and brightens the house without any effort on her part. And does
she not sing nicely?"

"Nicely!" echoed Lady Strangways in sheer amazement, every other thought
of her niece being instantly put on one side directly her marvellous
voice came under discussion. "Nicely! Is it possible that you do not know
that she has a wonderful voice?"

"Yes, very nice and strong, isn't it," said Mrs. Murray, who had really
only caught enough of her visitor's last remark to know that she was
praising her young guest. "But I have only heard her once or twice as
yet. Madame Martelli will not allow her to sing much to me, or to any
one, at present. She likes to hear every note she utters. I think her
grandfather will be pleased with her progress when she goes home. He told
me she had a nice voice, well worth some good finishing lessons, and
Madame Martelli seems to be taking great pains with her."

Lady Strangways smiled as she thought of the immense difference that lay
between Mr. Anstruther's conception of the quality of his granddaughter's
voice, and that voice as it actually was. But she had no time to stay and
enlighten Mrs. Murray as to the truth. She was due at a house some miles
away for tea, and could not stay at Rose Cottage any longer.

If the afternoon had been an exciting one for Eleanor, it had been
scarcely less so for Margaret. Lady Strangways' gracious personality had
made a deep and instant impression on her, and to have been obliged to
look on while such a charming person as her aunt, who had come specially
to make her acquaintance, was being coldly and rudely rebuffed by Eleanor
acting in her place, had been really a trying ordeal for her. Her own
aunt! How strange and wonderful it seemed that she, who had not known
that she possessed any relatives in the world but her grandfather, had
really owned an aunt all the time. An aunt, too, who was fully as anxious
to know and love her as Margaret was to respond to that affection. There
was in Margaret a fine large store of affection ready to be lavished upon
somebody. Hitherto that affection had not been wanted by any one; but now
she had her aunt's words for it that she was prepared to look upon her as
a daughter. And Eleanor had answered coldly and ungraciously, while she,
Margaret, would have made, oh! such a different answer if circumstances
o