There was a dry, half-pitiful smile in the Reverend Arthur's face as he replied, gazing fixedly the while at his sister: "`Beast!'" "What, Arthur?" "He said `beast.' He met me afterwards, and vowed he would never speak to me again if I alluded to the money, which he said was a gift; and it has never been repaid to this day." "Beast!" ejaculated Miss Mary, thoughtfully. "Yes, my dear Mary, but I have that sum put away, ready for him to take when he will." "Of course," said Miss Rosebury thoughtfully. "And I should like to give Harry Bolter a warm welcome when he comes, Mary; not a welcome of corn and wine, oil, olive and honey, Mary--but a welcome from the heart, such as would please him more." "My dear Arthur," cried the little lady, throwing her arms round her brother's lank, spare form, "you mustn't notice my crotchety ways, I'm getting an old woman--a fidgety old maid. Dr Bolter shall have as warm a welcome as I can give." "I knew it sister," he said tenderly embracing her; and it was very foolish, but the eyes of both were wet with tears as the little lady snatched herself away. "There, Arthur, now go, and don't you come near me again except to bring me the asparagus and rhubarb, for I shall be as busy as a bee. There's the doctor's room to prepare." "No; let him have mine." "What, with all that litter of dried plants and flies?" "Just what he would like." "There, go away." The Reverend Arthur Rosebury was about to say something more, but his sister checked him, and in a thoughtful dreamy way, he went slowly out into the garden, where at the end of ten minutes he had forgotten rhubarb, asparagus, even the coming of Dr Bolter, for the sun had shone out very hot, and the bees in the fourth hive beginning from the top were threatening to swarm. VOLUME ONE, CHAPTER THREE. THE YOUNG LADIES. "The Firlawns, Mayleyfield, educational establishment for the daughters of officers and gentlemen in the Indian civil service, conducted by the Misses Twettenham," as it said in the old circulars, for none were ever issued now. Thirty years of the care of young people, committed to their charge by parents compelled to reside in the East, had placed the Misses Twettenham beyond the need of circular or other advertising advocate. For it was considered a stroke of good fortune by Indian and other officials if vacancies could be found at the Firlawns for their daughters; in fact the Misses Twettenham might have doubled their numbers and their prices too, but they were content to keep on in their old conservative way, enjoying the confidence of their patrons, and really acting the parts of mothers to the young ladies committed to their charge.