hot, rather bored, amusing themselves by scanning the people near at
hand. The Vernon party were but a few yards away, and Hannah attracted
special attention.

"She _is_ plain!" exclaimed Noreen; whereat Darsie snapped her up in
double-quick time.

"Of _course_ she is plain! She wouldn't dream, of being anything else!"

Beloved plain Hannah! No features, however classic, could be as
eloquent as hers in her old friend's eyes. Darsie tossed her head, and
looked flusty and annoyed, whereat Noreen feebly apologised, emphasising
her offence by blundering explanations, and Ralph grew restless and
impatient.

"I say! This is getting slow. Come along, girls; let's take the ferry
and cross to the other side. It's not half bad fun to see all the
shows. It will be a change, anyhow, and you can come back when you're
tired."

"I'll stay with mother," Noreen decided dutifully. Ida surveyed the
crowd on the opposite bank with the dubious air of one who has lived all
her life within her own gates. "I don't _think_ I care to go into that
crush."

"Oh, come along, Darsie. Thank goodness you're not so squeamish. Let's
get out of this." Ralph pushed impatiently forward, and Mrs Percival
turned to Darsie, with raised eyebrows, and said urgently--

"Do go, dear! Ralph will take care of you. We will wait for you here."

Darsie smiled assent, the thought passing lightly through her mind that
Mrs Percival looked particularly sweet and gracious when she smiled.
She never dreamt that that particular smile, that little glance of
appeal, were to remain with her all heir life, to be her comfort in a
bitter grief.

They passed the spot where Hannah and Dan were standing with their
friends, and acting on a sudden impulse, Darsie turned her head, with a
few laughing words of explanation: "We're going to look at the Punch and
Judies!"

There was no definite response, but Hannah's exclamation had an envious
tone which made Ralph quicken his footsteps. It was rare good luck to
get Darsie to himself for an hour; he certainly did not wish to be
saddled with plain Hannah as an unwelcome third.

The ferry-boat was on the point of starting, its flat surfaces crowded
with pleasure-seekers. Ralph and Darsie had to run the last few yards
in order to secure a bare space for standing. Ralph took the outside
with the nonchalance of the true boating-man, who would almost as soon
fall in the water as not. Darsie, standing close by hi