And--Gerald,"-- she had followed her friend out into the hall, and stood leaning against the banisters,--"Gerald, dear, will you tell Mr.Halloway I am going down-stairs to-morrow ?" Halloway was to be Gerald's escort that evening, and stood waiting for her now in the hall below, and looking up at sound of Phebe's voice, he gave an exclamation of surprise and pleasure, and immediately sprang up the stairs.
"Miss Phebe!" he said, taking both her hands in his.

"How glad I am to see you once more!" Phebe shrank back from him with a little cry of dismay.

Ah! when does ever any thing happen exactly as we plan it shall?
She had pictured this meeting to herself over and over again during the long days of her seclusion,--just what he would say and what she would say, and just how she would dress on that first day when she went down-stairs.

She meant to look so particularly nice on that first day! And now to be caught in her plain little gray flannel wrapper with its simple red trimmings, her hair all loose and mussy, and even her very oldest slippers on,--and with Gerald standing beside her in her rich, dainty, becoming attire as if to make the contrast all the more painfully striking! Poor little Cinderella Phebe! She looked up at Denham almost ready to cry, and said never a word.
"It has been such a long, long time!" he said, still holding her hands.
"I do not know how we have made out to spare you." "We shall not have to spare her much longer," said Gerald.

"She is coming down-stairs to-morrow." And then Halloway dropped Phebe's hands, and turning to Gerald, held out a hand to her.
"Forgive me for not even noticing you, Miss Vernor.