"Walk in, please, Miss Martineau--this way--the young ladies is hoping you'll take a cup of tea with them, miss." Miss Martineau found herself the next instant in one of the most cheerful sitting-rooms to be found at Rosebury--it had always been a pretty room--furnished daintily with the odds and ends of rich and choice furniture which had belonged to Mrs.Mainwaring in her wealthy days.

Now it was bright with flowers, and the western sun poured in at one angle of the wide bay window.

The three girls, in their very simple black dresses, with no crape, came forward in a little group to meet her.

In their hearts they were slightly excited and upset, but rather than give way they put on an air of extra cheerfulness.

Miss Martineau, fond as she was of them, felt absolutely scandalized--to keep her out of the house for a whole month, and then to admit her in this fashion--such a lot of sunlight--such a heap of flowers, no crape on the black dresses, and Jasmine's face quite bright and her hair as curly as usual.