ks! Let me congratulate you
on the breaking of the spell. Who was the kind fairy who set you free
to appear among us in your rightful guise?"

He spoke like a book; he looked tall and handsome enough to be a prince
himself. Darsie forgave him on the instant for his former lack of
respect, and bent upon him her most dimpling smile.

"I freed myself. I wove my own spell, and when I was tired of it I
broke loose."

Ralph looked down at her with a slow, quizzical smile.

"You had better be careful! Spells are awkward things to move about.
They might alight, you know, on some other shoulders, and not be so
easily shaken off!"

His eyes, his voice, added point to the words. It was the first, the
very first compliment which Darsie had ever received from masculine
lips, and compared with the blunt criticisms of Dan Vernon, she found it
wonderfully stimulating.

"Come along, girls!" cried Ralph with a sudden return to a natural,
boyish manner. "There's a whole hour yet before tea, and we can't sit
here doing nothing. Let's go down to the river and punt. Do you punt,
Miss Garnett? I'll teach you! You look the sort of girl to be good at
sport. You'll pick it up in no time."

The three girls rose obediently and followed Ralph's lead riverwards,
while Noreen and Ida, gesticulating and grimacing in the background,
gave the visitor to understand that a great honour had been bestowed
upon her, and that she might consider herself fortunate in being the
recipient of an unusual mark of attention.

CHAPTER TEN.

A TREATY.

If there were innumerable good points in an acquaintance with the
Percival family, there was certainly the inevitable drawback, for on the
days when she was alone with her great-aunt, Darsie was rendered
lonelier and more restless than before by the knowledge that a couple of
miles away were three agreeable young companions who would be only too
pleased to include her in their pastimes. The different points of view
held by youth and age were, as usual, painfully in evidence. Darsie
considered that it would be desirable to meet the Percivals "every
single day"; Aunt Maria was glad that you had enjoyed yourself; was
pleased that you should meet young friends, and suggested a return
invitation, "some day next week!" pending which far-off period you were
expected to be content with the usual routine of morning drive,
afternoon needlework, and evening patience. Really--really--really, to
have