‘It is not mother.  It’s callers, I do believe,’ cried Mina, giving her hair a tug before the mirror, and shaking out her skirts, while her face brightened with expectation.

‘Mr. and Miss Fordyce.’

Clara rose and went hastily forward to receive her cousins, while the irrepressible Mina strove to hide her laughter, though her eyes danced in the most suspicious manner.  It was with rather more than ordinary interest that Gladys regarded the new-comers.  They were certainly a handsome pair, and so closely resembling each other that their relationship was at once apparent.

‘To what do we owe this unexpected felicity?’ inquired Mina banteringly.  ‘On such a day, too.’

’Yes, indeed; we quite expected to see you in the house we have just left,’ said Julia a little stiffly.

‘Where, where?’

‘Evelyn Stuart’s.  Have you forgotten this is her first reception day?’

’So it is, and we forgot all about it.  Clara, whatever shall we do?  Was there a crowd?’

‘Yes, an awful crowd.’

While answering Mina, Miss Julia inclined her head in recognition of Gladys, to whom Clara introduced her.  The slightest possible surprise betrayed itself in the uplifting of her straight brows, as her keen, flashing eyes took in every detail of the girl’s appearance.  Needless to say, the new inmate of the lawyer’s household had been freely discussed by the Pollokshields Fordyces, and it was in reality curiosity to see her which had brought them to Bellairs Crescent that afternoon.

‘I should just say it was a crowd,’ added George, giving his immaculate moustache a pull.  ’I was sorry for Stuart, poor beggar.  Really, though a fellow marries, he should not be subjected to an ordeal like you.  I don’t see anything to hinder a fellow’s wife from receiving folks herself.  It’s an awful bore on a fellow, you know.’

He spoke languidly, and all the time from under his drooping lids surveyed the slender figure and fair face of Gladys.  She was so different from the brilliant and showy young ladies he met in the society they moved in, that he was filled with a secret admiration.

’So the unfortunate young woman who marries you, George, may know what to expect.  Do you hear that, girls?  Be warned in time,’ cried Mina.  ’Won’t you take off your cloak, Julia, and stay a little?  Mother and tea will be here directly.’

’I daresay we have half an hour—­have we, George?  You are not going back to the mill, are you?’

’Not I; my nose has been pretty much at the grindstone for the last month.  And now, girls, what’s the best of your news?  We’re waiting to be entertained.  How do you like the West End of Glasgow, Miss Graham?’

‘Very much, thank you,’ answered Gladys, and somehow she could not help speaking distantly.  There was something about the young man she did not like.  Had she looked at Clara just then she would have seen her eyes filled with a lovely, wavering light, while a half-trembling consciousness was infused into her whole appearance.  These signs to the observant are not difficult to read.  Clara loved her handsome cousin, and unfortunately he was not blind to the fact.