“He does seem to be very full of promise,” said Phyllis. “I suppose Miss Prescott is much pleased with him.” “My sister Magdalen, do you mean? Well, we have not introduced him to her yet. You see, he is _only_ painting the church, and she is so devoted to swells, and makes such a fuss about our manners.” “Indeed! But surely you could not go out with him without her knowing it.” “She was not at this St. Milburgha’s Guild, you know, and Sisters Beata and Mena knew all about it. Oh, yes, she lets us go to them at St. Kenelm’s, but they are not swells enough for her.” “Mr. Flight’s Sisterhood, are not they?” “And Primrose Merrifield says that Wilfred declares that they are not ladies; but that’s all jealousy, you know, because Will doesn’t like my friends, and Magdalen is altogether gone upon grandees.” “Fancy!” was all that Phyllis managed to say. “She doesn’t want us to be friends with anybody who don’t belong to some one with a handle to her name. So foolish and stuck up! So we knew she would not be kind to Hubert.” “I think you had better have tried. I thought her one of the kindest people in the world.” “Ah! but, you know, unfortunately she has been a governess, and that teaches toadying.” At that moment “Phyl” was called to see the first star over the sea, and ran up to her father, so as to conceal how nearly she was laughing. Hubert Delrio came towards Vera. “Can you forgive me, Vera?” he said. “I shall speak to your sister as soon as I am at home, and ask her forgiveness, and—” “Oh, yes! yes! But do tell me who these people are.” “Did you not know? That most kind of men, is Lord Rotherwood. Those are Lord and Lady Ivinghoe, and—” “Lady Phyllis! Oh!” CHAPTER XIII—CHIMERAS DIRE “Qu’allait-il faire dans cette galère?” FRENCH COMEDY. VERA’S first thorough awakening the next morning was to hear outside the door, “Are you up, Fly?” “I shall be in a minute or two. Do you want me?” “You are a dab at _parlez-vous_. I want you to come ashore with me and cater for the starving crew.” “What fun! Anon, anon, Sir!” Vera then perceived that she had been bestowed in Lady Phyllis’ cabin, and that the proper owner was dressing herself in haste before the little shelf of a toilette table. So great had been the confusion of last night’s discovery that the poor silly child had only thought of hurrying out of sight and tumbling into bed without speaking to any one, and she had not distinctly known, when Lady Phyllis came down a good deal later and disposed of herself on the sofa, that Mrs. Griggs had made ready for her. And now the only thing she could think of was to say, “Oh! Lady Phyllis, I didn’t know.”