"What _could_ be done with it ?" she said to herself, walking slowly up and down, and glancing from side to side--"What _could_ be done with it ?" A rustle in the hall announced another guest.

Mrs.Fotheringham entered.
Marsham's sister dressed with severity; and as she approached her cousin she put up her eye-glass for what was evidently a hostile inspection of the dazzling effect presented by the young lady.

But Alicia was not afraid of Mrs.Fotheringham.
"How early we are!" she said, still quietly looking at the reflection of herself in the mirror over the mantel-piece and warming a slender foot at the fire.

"Haven't some more people arrived, Cousin Isabel?
I thought I heard a carriage while I was dressing." "Yes; Miss Vincent and three men came by the late train." "All Labor members ?" asked Alicia, with a laugh.
Mrs.Fotheringham explained, with some tartness, that only one of the three was a Labor member--Mr.Barton.

Of the other two, one was Edgar Frobisher, the other Mr.McEwart, a Liberal M.P., who had just won a hotly contested bye-election.