that at once. You are very
kind, but Barney would not like it, and we have a good deal of money
still left. Philippa drew it out of the bank."

"You will be in the workhouse soon," Mrs Loftus prophesied cheerfully.
"I never heard anything more mad than to spend your capital as you are
doing. Just think of the inroads you must have made into it this year!"

"I'd rather not, Aunt Loftus, if you don't mind. It is always the first
step which costs, but we have made a start, and hope to do wonders next
year. At the worst I shall avoid the workhouse by throwing myself on
Avice's mercy.--You would have me down at the lodge, wouldn't you,
dear?"

The glance exchanged between the two cousins was full of confidence and
affection, and Avice's voice had a new ring of animation as she replied:

"I should like to have you always. Oh Hope! I _do_ enjoy shopping now,
and seeing the girls who were with us in summer. Mother is quite
scandalised because we talk so much, but being with them does me more
good than I can say. And the conjurer's daughter is going to be
married--to a magic-lantern man! I thought of having them down for
their honeymoon."

"Avice is far more interested in that engagement than she is in Truda
Bennett's; and she is to be one of Truda's bridesmaids, too," said Mrs
Loftus in a puzzled tone as she pushed back her chair and rose from her
place before the tea-table. Hope rose too, with an impulse of escape,
and bent down to pick up muff and gloves. Her heart had given a great
leap of fear, and was beating in heavy throbs, but she said savagely to
herself, "You _sha'n't_ blush! You sha'n't look startled!" and turned
an unmoved face to her aunt.

"Miss Bennett engaged! I didn't, know."

"You can't have used your eyes, then, when you were with us last year.
They flirted shockingly! It ought to have been announced long ago. By
the way, Hope, we go down to The Shanty next week. You had better come
with us for a little visit. I meant to write and ask you, and you look
pale--as if you needed a change. We shall be almost the same party as
before."

"Dear aunty, I can't. It is good of you to think of it, but I couldn't
leave home just now. I should be so anxious and troubled that I should
be of no use to you."

"You must come later, then. It will be all the same to us, but the
others will be disappointed. Truda asks after you continually, and
Ralph Merrilies said he looked forward to some more