MR.

CARLYON'S TEA-PARTY If there be a smile on our lips, those around us will soon smile; and our happiness will become the truer and deeper as we see that these others are happy.
-- MAETERLINCK.
Smiles are as catching as tears.
-- MAETERLINCK.
What a sudden change in the atmosphere! If a fresh moorland breeze had swept through the little sitting-room at the White Cottage it could not have effected a more beneficial change.
A few words from a brisk, cheerful young woman had acted like magic; Mr.Carlyon lost his harassed look, Malcolm's bored expression had vanished, while Cedric's fervent "Thank goodness! Bet, we shall get along now," was inwardly echoed by his friends.
Malcolm's good-humour returned, and he gave his undivided attention to the flower-borders, and enlarged in his poetical way on the beauties of the Iceland and Shirley poppies.
"They are like fine court ladies," he observed to Cedric, "they are so smart and dainty and graceful.

What a charming combination of colour! Your friend Carlyon must have an artistic eye." "I expect it was Elizabeth's idea," returned Cedric lazily; "she is quite gone on poppies.

She and David are rival gardeners, and have no end of discussions.

My word, to listen to them one would think they were a later edition of Adam and Eve." Now, why did Malcolm frown at this boyish speech, and drop the subject hastily?
But Cedric only stretched himself with a yawn and went on-- "It is my private opinion that David knows very little about it, except what he gets from gardening books.