is
no knowing to what mad plan he might commit himself. The best thing
your cousins can do will be to stay quietly where they are and take in
paying guests to make ends meet. Quite good people do that nowadays;
and with so many girls they would not need much extra service in the
house. From what Stephen says, I fear they have some notion of coming
up to town, but that I shall strongly denounce. Most rash and
improvident for them, and uncomfortable for us. They would, no doubt,
expect us to take them up and introduce them to our friends, and would
be offended when they discovered that we had no intention of doing
anything of the kind. Much better stay where they are and work among
their old friends."

"I should like to see Philippa again. It's an age since she was here,
but I remember her quite well. She was so lively and amusing! And
there is another girl just my age, with a pretty, uncommon name. Faith,
is it? No; Hope. Uncle Edgar sent me a little sketch of her on my
birthday years ago, and it was so pretty! I'd rather like to know my
cousins, mother, if they were presentable. It's so lonely being an only
child."

Mrs Loftus looked at her daughter, and something like a quiver passed
across the hardness of her face. Avice was her darling, her idol, the
only creature on earth whom she really loved; and every now and again a
spasm of alarm gripped her heart as she noted the languid speech and
movement, the fragile form, and pallid complexion which distinguished
the girl from her companions. Everything within the power of love and
money had been done to make her strong and happy, yet she continued
listless and ailing, seeming to regard the very amusements provided for
her as so many penalties to be endured with resignation. Something must
be wrong--and very wrong--to make a girl of twenty-one assume so
unnatural an attitude. The mother checked a sigh half-way, and said
caressingly:

"There is no reason for you to be dull, dearest. I am always ready to
invite any one you may fancy. Surely, with all your friends, you need
not be alone. What about Truda Bennett! If you like liveliness you
could hardly improve upon her; and The Knoll is a nice house for you to
visit in return. Shall I write and ask her to come next week!"

"No, thank you, dear, I'd rather not Truda is very nice, but she tires
me out. She dislikes being quiet, and cares only for rushing about all
day long. She doesn't amuse _me_;