"I will try to, my dear." "She will be here in a couple of hours, and Alfred is coming in the afternoon." "It is unfortunate that I am not able to stop at home to see her, Lizzie; but I will try to get back in time." "Why, daddy!" cries Lizzie, in a tone of disappointment, "you are not going away!" "I must, my dear. Read this letter. I only received it this morning." It is a letter from Con Staveley, desiring him to be at the office in London by a certain time, to talk over the new scheme of discretionary investments. "How provoking!" exclaims Lizzie. "But it can't be helped, I suppose. You don't think it strange, do you?" "I see nothing strange in it, my dear; it is a matter of business." Lizzie gives him a queer look, and says again she supposes it can't be helped. "Be home as soon as you can, daddy," she calls after him, as he goes out of the house. Whatever reflections Lizzie indulges in after his departure are lost for the time in the pleasure she feels in Lily's arrival. Lily is not alone; Pollypod accompanies her. "Grandfather did not like me to come by myself," she says to Lizzie, "so I thought I would bring little Polly with me, Polly and I are great friends." Pollypod nods solemnly, and, after her usual fashion with new acquaintances, gazes in silence at Lizzie for a few seconds, and then, having made up her mind, raises her face to be kissed, and says, with the air of an oracle, "I like you!" This simple statement being received in good faith by Lizzie, they become friends instantly, and Pollypod being made free of the house wanders about it and the garden in a state of great delight, coming to the girls every now and then, "wanting to know" something or other. As for Lizzie and Lily they desire nothing better than to be left by themselves; girls, when they get together have so many important items of information to impart to each other, and so many confidences to exchange. The first thing to be done is, of course, to show Lily all over the house; and then there is a long chat in the bedroom. "I am so sorry daddy is not at home," says Lizzie, "but he was obliged to go to London on particular business." The mention of daddy necessitates an explanation, for Lily has understood from Alfred that Lizzie is an orphan. So Lizzie tells the simple story of her life to her new friend, and Lily listens, and sympathises, and admires. When Lizzie comes to the part which introduces Mr. Sheldrake's name into the narrative, Lily listens more attentively, and yet with something of a forced and embarrassed air, which does not escape Lizzie's observation. "Must not Mr. Sheldrake be a kind-hearted gentleman?" asks Lizzie, keeping close watch on Lily's face. "He does it out of pure kindness, daddy says. You don't often hear of such things." "I have heard much good of him," replies Lily; "he is a great friend of Alfred's. Alfred is never tired of speaking of him."