"I've just persuaded Jeanie to accept Antonia's invitation. I hear the county is coming and they expect something good, but no one knows. Do you, Maud?"
"Toney wants it to be a secret," said Maud.
"Ah, I see, you two always take Toney's side. Maud, what a colour you have. Morning walks agree with you, don't you think so, Lewis?"
Lewis looked up and noticed how pretty Maud was looking.
"Maud is developing into a beauty, aunt!"
"You silly boy! I don't want my girls to be beauties."
"Then you must find out some way of stopping it! Jeanie's pensive air is most becoming, and Maud----"
"Ah! poor Jeanie, I think Germany will cure her low spirits."
Lewis remarked he had to go to town on business that afternoon but he could be back for the concert. He wanted to get rid of his ill-temper. Maud's unfortunate remark had been the cause of it. Would someone else seize the prize he was too proud to win--and would that someone else be Edward Lang? Certainly fine feelings would not stop him trying to grasp at wealth.
Maud was dreadfully restless that afternoon and insisted on Jeanie turning out her wardrobe to see what suitable dress she should wear.
"Your pale blue dress is pretty," remarked Maud. "Oh, we have both worn those pale blue dresses till people must know them."
"There is no time to get a new dress, I'm afraid."
"I shan't waste a penny of my money on dress and mother says she can't afford it."
"I don't feel like white muslin. I shall wear my black dress. No one will notice us, Maud."
The sisters stood rather sadly looking over the beautiful park from the Elizabethan windows. Nothing is more depressing than to be surrounded by wealthy friends and yet to be too poor to take the position you are entitled to. Suddenly the butler entered.
Their Aunt Honoria and their mother had gone out to pay calls; they were alone.
Jeanie flushed. "A gentleman to see her" made her heart beat, but the gentleman that entered was quite unknown. He bowed very politely and looked at the sisters critically.
"Excuse me, ladies, but five minutes will suffice."
Five minutes! The sisters looked at each other in dismay. Had Miles let in a lunatic?
The stranger looked at a letter he held in his hand.
"Surely I am not mistaken. Two Miss Hamiltons at Waycott Hall. The order to be executed immediately. I shall take the next train back to town and twenty individuals are put on at once on each dress; by to-morrow at ten o'clock you will have two creations. If you will permit me." A yard measure came swiftly out of the gentleman's pocket, and before the astonished girls could speak, their measures were taken and the gentleman bowed low and retired.