atchet. No love lost between
_us_, my dear!" cried Madge shrewdly. "Nice old fellow, Uncle Edward!
Looks as if he would be kind if he had the chance."

"Isn't she smart? She has taken the flowers out of an ordinary bonnet
to make us think she is in mourning. I could swear there were once pink
roses where that jet is now," said Theo of the sharp eyes, the while she
glanced complacently at her own careful toilet. "I am glad I dressed up
the drawing-room. Don't hurry down, Phil. Let them have time to look
round and realise that we don't live in a hovel."

"I suppose I ought to fly to meet them at the door, but I don't feel in
the least inclined. Now Steve is going out. He looks so nervous! I'm
sure he wishes that he had not written. Do you think Aunt Gertrude
looks more determined than I do? I expect we shall have an awful
battle. You must come down with me, girls, and be introduced before we
begin. I wish my heart wouldn't thud; I don't want to give myself away
by looking nervous."

Then came a quick review before the glass, a creeping downstairs, and
the entrance of four girls, one after the other, to greet the unknown
relatives as they stood in the middle of the low, sunny-windowed
drawing-room. Mrs Loftus put up her _pince-nez_ and stared at each in
turn--Philippa, stately and dignified; pretty, soft-eyed Hope; Theo,
with her air of distinction and clever, interesting face; Madge of the
long, sagacious chin and quick, light movements--and even as she looked
she realised that these were no nonentities, but young women who would
insist upon having a definite vote in the matter of their own destiny.
They sat down and talked company talk, the little handmaid appeared and
offered light refreshments to the travellers, Uncle Loftus made
complimentary remarks, and everything was quite proper and orthodox,
just like a scene in a book, until presently Stephen began to fidget and
glance at the clock, and Philippa looked at her uncle and said, "Shall
we have our talk now? The girls will leave us alone for an hour, and
Stephen will tell you exactly what our position is, and what we are
thinking of doing."

"Perhaps it would be as well. I am feeling so tired after the journey
that I should like to go to bed early this evening, and have ordered
dinner at the inn at seven o'clock. I hope that is convenient to you.
I didn't know what your arrangements might be, or whether it would be
convenient to have us here."