The girls looked into one another’s eyes, and then simultaneously obeyed some mysterious impulse by clasping hands. “You two were little girls when I last saw you, Miss Blanche,” Lady Quaintree said, as they descended the stairs to enter the carriage. “I was sixteen, your ladyship,” protested Blanche. “I am nineteen now.” “Ah! well. Fifteen or sixteen, I suppose, is very young and childish to an old lady like me,” smiled her ladyship. On their way to The Cedars, the carriage passed the barracks. Blanche eagerly directed the attention of her companions to the place, and informed them that the present occupants were to leave on the morrow, and a fresh regiment was to be installed on Wednesday morning. Lady Quaintree politely suppressed a yawn, and thought with mild wonderment of how easily interested in small objects country people were. Lois listened with equal indifference, studying the captivating lights and shadows on her new friend’s face. Neither knew that it was the regiment to which Paul Desfrayne belonged that was expected. Mrs. Dormer was a delightful, somewhat old-fashioned type of the country lady. Her manners were as free and as heartily cordial as those of her daughter, but yet, like Blanche, she was as exquisitely refined as if all her life had been passed at court. Having established her guests to her entire satisfaction, she began to make a bargain with Lady Quaintree for a more extended stay than that contemplated. She protested against their running away after a few hours, for Lady Quaintree had settled that by the afternoon of the next day she and Lois should drive to Flore Hall, and, if it were at all inhabitable, stay there perhaps a day, or a couple of days. Mrs. Dormer listened with lively interest to the romantic story of Miss Turquand’s newly acquired riches, while Blanche coaxed the young girl into the garden for a quiet talk. In an hour the girls had cemented a friendship that was to last till death should them part. “I know Flore Hall quite well,” said Blanche, when her enthusiasm had slightly subsided. “A dear, delicious, old-fashioned place, in what my old nurse calls ‘apple-pie order.’ You ought to fall in love with the house, the gardens, the plantations, the shrubberies, the conservatories, and all the rest, at first sight.” Blanche went on to give a minute description of the various beauties of the Hall and its surroundings, until she made Lois feel more desirous than she had yet been to see her new possession. The next day, having been introduced to Squire Dormer, and shown the house and grounds by Blanche, who did the honors, Lois, now full of an eager interest, and Lady Quaintree, quite girllike in her gleeful anticipation, went to Flore Hall. There were many discussions as to how they should go, but it had been finally decided that Miss Dormer should drive them over in her pony-carriage.