Meanwhile, Lettice herself had not broken down, nor shown any signs of the emotion of a few days earlier. She was a creature of moods, but though each mood was intense while it lasted, it lasted, as a rule, for a remarkably short space of time. If she were in tears over a certain subject on Monday, it was ten to one that she had forgotten all about it before Thursday. If she were wild with excitement over a new proposition, she would probably yawn when it was mentioned a second time, and find it difficult to maintain a show of interest. So, in the present case, she had exhausted her distress at the idea of leaving home while weeping upon her father's shoulders, and ever since then the idea of the life in London, in Miss Carr's beautiful house, had been growing more and more attractive. And to be chosen first--before all the others! It was a position which was full of charm to a girl's love of appreciation. "Come here, dear," said Miss Carr tenderly, when the door had shut behind the other two girls; and when Lettice seated herself on the sofa, she took her hands in hers and gazed fixedly into her face. In truth, it would have been difficult to find an object better worth looking at than "lovely Lettice" at that moment. The hair which rippled over her head was of no pale, colourless flaxen, but of a rich coppery bronze, with half-a-dozen shades of gold in its luxuriant waves; the grey eyes had delicately marked brows and generous lashes, and the red lips drooped in sweetest curves. The old lady's face softened as she gazed, until it looked very sweet and motherly. "Lettice," she said softly, "my dear little girl, I hope we shall be happy together! I will do all I can for you. Do you think you can be content--that you can care for me a little bit in return?" "Yes, oh yes--a great deal!" Lettice's heart was beating so quickly that she hardly knew what she was saying, but it came naturally to her to form pretty speeches, and the glance of the lovely eyes added charm to her words. "I hope so--I hope so! And now I want to tell you the reason why I choose you before either of your sisters. I alluded just now to something which had influenced me, but which I could not mention in public. It is about this that I want to speak." Miss Carr paused for a few minutes, stroking the girl's soft, flexible hands. "Do you know what is meant by an `Open Sesame,' my dear?" "Oh, yes. It is the word which Ali Baba used in the `Arabian Nights,' and that made the doors in the rocks fly open before him." "Yes, that is right. I see you know all about it; but would you understand what I meant, dear, if I said that God had given _you_ an `Open Sesame' into other people's hearts and lives?" Lettice looked up quickly, surprised and awed. "I? No! How have I--?" "Look in the mirror opposite!" said the old lady gravely, and the girl hung her head in embarrassment.