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haven’t marked any of your other things,” she commented, “seeing as they’re still quite wet.”
    Miss Tina would have snubbed her sharply at that point or ignored the remark completely. Miss Alethea only laughed, agreed that it was a good thing she hadn’t been wearing a gown that she was particularly fond of when the accident occurred, and poured out the whole story. Or most of it. If Hetty never learned exactly where the change of costume had taken place, it was doubtless because Hebe came in with the freshly pressed muslin and had to be thanked for her kindness. By the time that she had helped her new charge into her simple evening gown, Hetty’s first impressions were favourable. No beauty, but pleasant ways and good manners. Brushing out the fine silky hair, she volunteered the information that she remembered Miss Alethea’s mama as a young girl, not yet out.
    “Very kind she was to me,” she explained. “It was my first place and me just thirteen. I was so homesick I cried myself to sleep every night. But then the mistress—your grandmama that was—said I should wait on the schoolroom. And Miss Verona and Miss Maria used to joke me and make me laugh and give me ribbons and sugar sticks and a kitten to cuddle up in bed. Never was two nicer young ladies. You put me in mind of Miss Verona with your way of talking, though you’re not like her in looks.”
    There was a rueful twinkle in Alethea’s eyes. “No, alas! Susan is the one who takes after Mama. I am said to resemble Papa’s sister, but since she died before I was born I cannot venture an opinion on that. Both Mama and Aunt Maria were acknowledged beauties, were they not? And my cousin Tina is the loveliest creature imaginable. I am sure she shines all the others down at the ‘ton’ parties. It is really very disheartening.” But the cheerful voice belied the doleful words. Growing up with a pretty sister, even if Susan would never compare with the exquisite Tina, Alethea was well accustomed to the knowledge that she had no claim to beauty.
    “Handsome is as handsome does,” retorted Hetty tartly. “For my part, if I were a gentleman, I’d rather settle for a good disposition than a pretty face.”
    “So Papa was used to say,” said Alethea demurely, a dimple peeping and her straight little nose wrinkling mischievously. “ He said I should study to make myself agreeable and helpful, and to mend my temper which is inclined to be hasty. But it would be so much easier just to be naturally beautiful without any effort, wouldn’t it?”
    “Go along with you, miss,” said Hetty capitulating entirely. “Your Papa’s in the right of it as maybe you’ll find out some day. Now can you find your own way downstairs or would you wish me to show you?”
    Tina, meanwhile, having left her cousin with Hetty, had hurried to her mother’s dressing room. Since kindly Mrs. Newton had lingered to assure herself that every attention had been paid to the comfort of even so insignificant a guest as Miss Hetherstone, she had some minutes to wait, and by the time that her mama at last hurried in she was fuming with impatience.
    “What have you been doing Mama? You must have known I wanted private speech with you and that the matter was urgent. Send Hebe away.”
    “But my love!” remonstrated Mrs. Newton, glancing anxiously at the dainty Louis Quinze clock that stood on the mantel shelf. “It lacks but half an hour to dinner. I shall never be ready in time. And your cousin’s first night with us. Can it not wait?”
    “No. And by the looks of her, my cousin wouldn’t know the difference if you came down to dinner in your bedgown.”
    Mrs. Newton nodded resignedly to Hebe, who went out of the room with something suspiciously like a flounce.
    “But do, pray, make haste, my love,” she urged. “You know how unpunctuality annoys Papa.”
    Tina’s eyes were huge and dark with barely suppressed excitement. “It is Skirlaugh, Mama. He is back in Town at