“Oh, Alice! by the by, so you were, I suppose,” said Miss Phillips.

“I preferred riding on horseback in those days,” said Elsie; “but I think the drives with Dr. Phillips, lately, were the most delightful things I ever had in my life.  After being quite debarred from anything but walking so long, I feel this hackney-coach really luxurious, I assure you.”

“The drives in Derbyshire did you good, Miss Alice; you are looking better than when you came down,” said Mr. Brandon.

“Oh! much better,” said Miss Phillips.  “Papa said it was all nonsense her being so alarmed about her health; but, both she and Miss Melville were a little frightened—­London suits her better than Edinburgh.  I have not heard you cough, Alice, for a week or more.”

“Yes, my cough is quite gone,” said Elsie; “and I have much better spirits.”

“But, by the by,” said Miss Phillips, “I really want my bonnet to go out with tomorrow.  Your London smoke is dreadfully destructive.  I had no idea that mine was so bad till I put it on this bright day, and really it looks too shabby to wear, though I had intended to make it last another month.  At home it would have looked better after three months’ wear than it does after three weeks here.  You know, Mrs. Phillips promised you should have it ready for me to go to the exhibition of pictures tomorrow, by middle day,” continued she.

“I fear,” said Alice, “that I cannot get it done in time, for we have been so much longer in Regent Street than I expected, and it will be nearly dinnertime before we get home; and Mr. Phillips insists, that as my cousin Francis is to dine with you today, I should be of the party.”

“Indeed!” said Harriett, “and so you cannot finish my bonnet in time—­it is a great disappointment to me.”

“Mr. Phillips would not allow me to refuse, I know; and Jane, too, is anxious for me to have a talk with Francis.”

“And you would like it yourself, too?” said Mr. Brandon.

“Yes, very much indeed,” said Elsie, honestly.

“I will be glad to have the chance of seeing you.  By the by, Phillips forgot to ask me; but I will forgive him, and invite myself.”

“Oh! you need not stand on ceremony,” said Harriett; “you are in the habit of coming in and going out of the house like one of ourselves; but really, Alice, are you sure you could not do my bonnet for me?  There is so little work on the bonnets now-a-days, and you might have it done by two o’clock.  Is not that the hour you appointed, Mr. Brandon?”

“Yes; or say half-past,” said Brandon.

“Well, by half-past two.  I am sure you have made bonnets in a greater hurry at your Edinburgh house of business often enough.  I have seen how very quick you are.  I quite wondered at the rapidity with which you got on with Mrs. Phillips’s.”

“But that is not finished,” said Elsie, “and I promised it for the same hour to go to the Exhibition.  I am very sorry, indeed, Miss Phillips; but, unless you can induce Mr. Phillips to excuse my appearance at dinner, I cannot possibly do it for you.”