Miss Panney listened with great attention.  She now saw how she must change her plans.  If Ralph were to marry Dora, Miriam must like Dora.  As for his own liking, there would be no trouble about that, after the Drane girl should be got rid of.  In regard to this riddance, Miss Panney had intended to make an early move and a decided one.  Now she saw that this would not do.  The Drane girl, that alien intruder, whom Dr. Tolbridge’s treachery had thrust into this household, was the great obstacle to the old lady’s schemes, but to oust her suddenly would ruin everything.  Miriam would rise up in opposition, and at present that would be fatal.  Miriam was not a girl whose grief and anger at the loss of one thing could be pacified by the promise of another.  Having lost Cicely, she would turn her back upon Dora, and what would be worse, she would undoubtedly turn Ralph’s back in that direction.

To this genial young man, his sister was still his chief object on earth.  Later, this might not be the case.

When Miriam began to like Dora,—­and this must happen, for in Miss Panney’s opinion the Bannister girl was in every way ten times more charming than Cicely Drane,—­then, cautiously, but with quick vigor, Miss Panney would deliver the blow which would send the Dranes not only from Cobhurst, but back to their old home.  In the capacity of an elderly and experienced woman who knew what everybody said and thought, and who was able to make her words go to the very spinal marrow of a sensitive person, she was sure she could do this.  And when she had done it, it would cheer her to think that she had not only furthered her plans, but revenged herself on the treacherous doctor.

Now was heard from within, the voice of Cicely, who had come downstairs from her work, and who, not knowing that Miriam had a visitor, was calling to her that it was time to get dinner.

“My dear,” said Miss Panney, “go in and attend to your duties, and if you will let me, I shall like ever so much to stay and take dinner with you, and you need not put yourself to the least trouble about me.  You ought to have very simple meals now that you are doing your own work.  I very much want to become better acquainted with your little friend Cicely and her good mother.  Now that I know that you care so much for them, I feel greatly interested in them both, and you know, my dear, there is no way of becoming acquainted with people which is better than sitting at table with them.”

Miriam was not altogether pleased, but said the proper things, and went to call Mike to take the roan mare, who was standing asleep between the shafts of her phaeton.