If Miss Darrell wanted a custard made she was willing to do it for her and welcome, but she wanted no gossiping prying cooks about her kitchen.' As I knew Max's peculiarity, I was somewhat surprised when, long before the appointed time, Mrs.Barton came up and told me that Mr.Cunliffe was in the parlour.

I had commenced my toilet in rather a leisurely fashion, but now I made haste to join him, and ran downstairs as quickly as possible, carrying my fur-lined cloak over my arm.
'You look very nice, my dear,' he said, in quite fatherly fashion.

'Have I ever seen that gown before ?' The gown in point had been given to me by Lesbia, and had been made in Paris: it was one of those thin black materials that make up into a charming demi-toilette, and was a favourite gown with me.
I always remember the speech Lesbia made as she showed it to me.

'When you put on this gown, Ursula, you must think of the poor little woman who hoped to have been your sister.' This was one of the pretty little speeches that she often made.

Poor dear Lesbia! she always did things so gracefully.