The evening of that day was a scene of welcomes, dinners, and confusion.  The Rotherwoods had arrived that evening at the Cliff Hotel just in time for dinner, of which they considerately partook where they were, to save Jane Mohun trouble; but all four of the party came the instant it was over to hear and see all that was going on, and were fervently received by Gillian and Mysie, who were sleeping at their aunt’s to be ready for the morrow, and in spite of all fatigue, had legs wherewith to walk Lord Ivinghoe and Lady Phyllis round the stalls, now closed up by canvas and guarded by police.  Phyllis was only mournful not to have assisted in the preparations, and heard all the fun that Mrs. Grinstead had made.  But over the wall of Carrara a sight was seen for which no one was prepared—-no other than Maura White’s pretty classical face!

“Yes,” she said, “how could I be away from such an occasion?  I made Uncle White bring me to London-—he had business there, you know-—and then I descended on Kalliope, and wasn’t she surprised!  But I have a lovely Italian dress!”

Kalliope Henderson looked more alarmed than gratified on the whole.  She knew that there had been no idea of Maura’s coming till after it had been known that the Rotherwoods were to open the bazaar, and “made Uncle White” was so unlike their former relations that all were startled, Gillian asking in a tone of reproof how Aunt Adeline spared Maura.

“Oh, we shall be back at Gastein in less than a week.  I could not miss such an occasion.”

“I only had her telegram half-an-hour ago,” said Kalliope, in an apologetic tone; and Lord Ivinghoe was to be dimly seen handing Maura over the fence.  Moonlight gardens and moonlight sea!  What was to be done?  And Ivinghoe, who had begun life by being as exclusive as the Marchioness herself!  “People take the bit between their teeth nowadays,” as Jane observed to Lady Rotherwood when the news reached her, and neither said, though each felt, that Adeline would not have promoted this expedition, even for the child whom she and Mr. White had conspired to spoil.  Each was secretly afraid of the attraction for Ivinghoe.

At St. Andrew’s Rock there was a glad meeting with the Travis Underwoods, who had disposed of themselves at the Marine Hotel, while they came up with a select party of three Vanderkists to spend the evening with Clement, Geraldine, and Lancelot, not to mention Adrian, who had been allowed to sit up to dinner to see his sisters, and was almost devoured by them.  His growth, and the improved looks of both his uncle and aunt, so delighted Marilda, that Lancelot declared the Rockquay people would do well to have them photographed “Then” and “Now,” as an advertisement of the place!  But he was not without dread of the effect of the disclosure that had yet to be made, though Gerald had apparently forgotten all about it as he sat chaffing Emilia Vanderkist about the hospital, whither she was really going for a year; Sophy about the engineer who had surveyed the Penbeacon intended works, and Francie about her Miranda-Mona in strange hands.