The children looked and felt as if the meeting were deferred for years; but Miss Mohun, remembering the condition of ‘Il Lido,’ alike as to the presence of workmen and absence of servants, felt relieved at the respite, proceeded to send a telegram to Macrae, and became busier than ever before in her life.

The Rotherwoods were just going to London.  The Marquis was wanted for a division, and though both he and Dr. Dagger declared his collar-bone quite repaired, his wife could not be satisfied without hearing for herself a verdict to the same effect from the higher authorities, being pretty sure that whatever their report might be, his abstract would be ‘All right.  Never mind.’

Fly had gained so much in flesh and strength, and was so much more like her real self, that she was to remain at the hotel with Miss Elbury, the rooms being kept for her parents till Easter.  Mysie was, however, to go with them to satisfy her mother, ’with a first mouthful of children,’ said Lord Rotherwood.  ’Gillian had better come too; and we will write to the Merrifields to come to us, unless they are bound to the old lady.’

This, however, was unlikely, as she was very infirm, and her small house was pretty well filled by her attendants.  Lady Rotherwood seconded the invitation like a good wife, and Gillian was grateful.  Such a forestalling was well worth even the being the Marchioness’s guest, and being treated with careful politeness and supervision as a girl of the period, always ready to break out.  However, she would have Mysie, and she tried to believe Aunt Jane, who told her that she had conjured up a spectre of the awful dame.  There was a melancholy parting on the side of poor little Lady Phyllis.  ’What shall I do without you, Mysie dear?’

‘It is only for a few days.’

’Yes; but then you will be in a different house, all down in the town—–­it will be only visiting—–­not like sisters.’

‘Sisters are quite a different thing,’ said Mysie stoutly; ’but we can be the next thing to it in our hearts.’

‘It is not equal,’ said Fly.  ’You don’t make a sister of me, and I do of you.’

’Because you know no better!  Poor Fly, I do wish I could give you a sister of your own.’

’Do you know, Mysie, I think—–­I’m quite sure, that daddy is going to ask your father and mother to give you to us, out and out.’

‘Oh!  I’m sure they won’t do that,’ cried Mysie in consternation.  ‘Mamma never would!’

‘And wouldn’t you?  Don’t you like me as well as Gill and Val?’

’I like you better.  Stop, don’t, Fly; you are what people call more of a companion to me—–­my friend; but friends aren’t the same as sisters, are they?  They may be more, or they may be less, but it is not the same kind.  And then it is not only you, there are papa and mamma and all my brothers.’

’But you do love daddy, and you have not seen yours for four years, and Aunt Florence and all the cousins at Beechcroft say they were quite afraid of him.’