It seemed to the girl that Dennis was in a great state of excitement about something. Also it was evident that the gloom that had appeared to settle so definitely on the little house the day before had been lifted. When they were ready to go, the children crept into their mother's room to say "good-bye," but Caroline remained outside. Betty brought out a message. "Mother says we are to be as good as we know how, and to do everything we are telled." It was very delightful to be welcomed by Mrs. Brenton so cordially. Betty had dilated with enthusiasm on the joys that awaited them at Yelverton, and Caroline quickly realized that the child had exaggerated nothing. The little people were installed in a wing of the house where there were any number of empty rooms and long passages just made to be danced in and to echo with happy voices--a veritable playground; and Agnes Brenton, who had studied the art of making people comfortable all her life, took the children's governess into her first consideration. There were no guests when they arrived, though plenty were expected for Christmas. The mere thought of having her house full, and of arranging all sorts of treats for the children, made Mrs. Brenton quite happy. "I am going to keep you tremendously busy," she said to Caroline; "we must furbish up this old house. This is the first year that Camilla has let me have the children with me for Christmas. But I intend to make a bargain with her now. I shall insist that she sends them here as much as possible. I know Rupert Haverford will join forces with me in this. I suppose they will be married very soon." Caroline looked so surprised that Mrs. Brenton laughed. "Do you mean to tell me you have not heard the great news? It is known now to everybody," she said, "therefore I am not betraying confidences. I am so delighted about it, for I confess I have been hoping for this for a long time past. You know how dear Camilla is to me, and I like him immensely. Don't you?" Then Mrs. Brenton laughed. "Oh, I forgot you don't know him! It is funny that you never came across him when you were with his mother!" "He used to go very seldom to see Mrs. Baynhurst," Caroline answered. She spoke slowly, as if her thoughts were occupied. The engagement between Mrs. Lancing and Rupert Haverford was of course largely discussed at Yelverton, and was the favourite item of gossip elsewhere for the moment. As Camilla had prophesied, the world gave nearly all its congratulations to Haverford's betrothed. Mrs. Lancing was very delightful, very pretty--in every way a most charming woman; but there are any amount of charming and delightful and pretty women in the world, and rich men (rich, at least, in the great way that Haverford was) are so scarce. Caroline was sharply startled when she heard that Mrs. Lancing was pledged to marry Rupert Haverford. There was a suggestion of anxiety in the way her thoughts worked about the other woman.