Do you mind the sea very much ?" "Oh dear, no! I used to sail a great deal when I was a girl, and the Atlantic cannot be worse than our coast." Miss Skeat's assent was a matter of real importance to Margaret, for the old gentlewoman was sincerely attached to her, and Margaret would have been very unwilling to turn her faithful companion adrift, even for a time, besides the minor consideration that without a companion she would not go at all.

The end of it was that by dinner-time she had made up her mind to write excuses to all the people who expected her, and to accept the Duke's invitation.

After all, it was not until next month, and she could finish the book she was reading with Claudius before that.

She postponed writing to the Duke until the following day, in order to make a show of having considered the matter somewhat longer.

But her resolution did not change, and in the morning she despatched a friendly little note to the effect that she found her engagements would permit her, etc.