Miss Panney now had her cues; she did not offer to help in any way, and made no suggestions in any direction.  At luncheon she made herself agreeable to everybody, and before the meal was over they all thought her a most delightful old lady with a wonderful stock of good stories.  On her side Miss Panney was also greatly pleased; she found Ralph even a better fellow than she had thought him.  He had not only a sunny temper, but a bright wit, and he knew what was being done in the world.  Cicely, too, was satisfactory.  She was a most attractive little thing, pretty to a dangerous extent, but in her treatment of Ralph there was not the least sign of flirtation or demureness.  She was as free and familiar with him as if she had known him always.

“Men are not apt to marry the girls they have known always,” said Miss Panney to herself, “and Dora can do better than this one if she has but the chance; and the chance she must have.”

While listening with the most polite attention to a reminiscence related by Mrs. Drane, Miss Panney earnestly considered this subject.  She had thought of many plans, some of them vague, but all of the same general character, for bringing Dora and Miriam together and promoting a sisterly affection between them, for her mind had been busy with the subject since Miriam had left her alone on the piazza, but none of the plans suited her.  They were clumsy and involved too much action on the part of Dora.  Suddenly a satisfying idea shot into the old lady’s mind, and she smiled so pleasantly that Mrs. Drane was greatly encouraged, and entered into some details of her reminiscence which she had intended to omit, thinking they might prove tiresome.

“If they only could go away together, somewhere,” said Miss Panney to herself, “that would be grand; that would settle everything.  It would not be long before Dora and Miriam would be the dearest of chums, and with Ralph’s sister away, that Drane girl would have to go.  It would all be so natural, so plain, so beautiful.”

When Miss Panney drove home, about the middle of the afternoon, she was still smiling complacently at this good idea, and wondering how she might carry it out.

CHAPTER XXXIII

LA FLEUR LOOKS FUTUREWARD

According to his promise, Dr. Tolbridge came to Cobhurst on the morning of his intended departure for Barport, bringing with him more of his manuscript and some other copying which he wished Cicely to do.  He had never known until now how much he needed a secretary.  He saw only the ladies, Ralph having gone off to try to shoot some woodcock.  The young man was not in a good humor, for he had no dog, and his discontent was increased by the reflection that a fine setter had been presented to him, and he had not yet come into possession of it.  He wanted the dog, Congo, because he thought it was a good dog, and also because Dora Bannister had given it to him, and he was impatient to carry out the plan which Dora had proposed to get the animal to Cobhurst.