He was saying to his niece--"This is Alice, Constance--and Nora! You'll hardly remember each other again, after all these years." "Oh, yes, I remember quite well," said a clear, high-pitched voice.

"How do you do!--how do you do ?" And the girl held a hand out to each cousin in turn.

She did not offer to kiss either Alice or Nora.

But she looked at them steadily, and suddenly Nora was aware of that expression of which she had so vivid although so childish a recollection--as though a satiric spirit sat hidden and laughing in the eyes, while the rest of the face was quite grave.
"Come in and have some tea.

It's quite ready," said Alice, throwing open the drawing-room door.