She was most gentle and most dignified, but I could as soon take liberties with her as with—­with—­you, Joseph, when you choose to exert your authority.  After Miss Mainwaring came, I thought it best to run away; but before I went I extracted a promise from the three darlings to come and spend the day here to-morrow.  Really, Joseph, I have had a surprising day; but I remember now that Miss Martineau did say something about these children being well born.”

Mr. Ellsworthy again raised his eyebrows.

“I had an acquaintance once of the name,” he said, “but I lost sight of him years ago.  It is a good name.  Well, Kate, you will do what you can for your protegees.  I am glad you have found some objects of interest close to your own gates.”

Here Mrs. Ellsworthy dropped her slightly frivolous tone, and rising from her seat, went up to her husband.

“Joseph,” she said, “I want you to contrive to be at home for lunch to-morrow.  I want you to see my girls, and to advise me how best to help them.  Primrose is so proud and so inexperienced; the two younger ones, of course, know nothing of either poverty or riches; they live as the flowers live, and are happy for the same reason.  Do you know, Joseph, that the eldest of these sisters is not seventeen, and the youngest only ten; that they seem to be absolutely without relations, almost without friends, and that between them they have only a Government grant of thirty pounds a year.”

Here Mrs. Ellsworthy’s pretty bright blue eyes filled with tears, and her husband, stooping down, kissed her.

“I will make a point of seeing those girls to-morrow Kate,” he said.  “I am glad you have come across them.”

Then he went off to his library, where he sat, and read, and lost himself in great thoughts far into the night.  It is to be feared that during these hours he forgot the Mainwarings and their troubles.

Mrs. Ellsworthy had appointed noon the next day to receive her young guests, and punctual to the moment the three walked into her drawing-room.

Daisy instantly commented on this fact.  “There’s the last stroke of twelve striking from the church clock,” she exclaimed.  “Oh, please! where’s the Persian kitten?”

“I have brought you all the carnations that were in flower,” said Jasmine.  “Smell them; aren’t they delicious?  Mamma used to love them so—­I would not give them to any one but you.”

Mrs. Ellsworthy stooped and kissed Jasmine, and taking her hand, gave it a little squeeze.  “Thank you, my love,” she said—­“I value your beautiful flowers—­you shall arrange them yourself in this amber vase.”

“They are such a vivid crimson, they would look best against white,” answered Jasmine, raising her eyes a little anxiously.  “I like to arrange flowers to look like a picture.  Mamma always allowed me to arrange the flowers, and Primrose will in the future.”  Here Jasmine went up to Primrose, and took her hand, and the elder sister smiled at her with great affection, and said, looking at Mrs. Ellsworthy, “We call Jasmine our artist at home.”