“They ought to have asked me too,” said Effie, looking rather black. “I call it quite rude; but these grand county people always are so rude.” “Oh, but, Effie, I am only going to practise accompaniments! I go to River Street for that, and you don’t mind. Why should you mind this? We never can get those difficult passages right without a proper, long, steady practice, and one can’t get it at the hall. Everybody is wanting their turn; and I get flurried with so much chattering and noise. I thought it such a good idea when Miss Lawrence asked me to come to the Manor.” “She should have asked me too, then,” said Effie, with a pout. “Not that I care about going. I’m not such a great admirer of May Lawrence or her voice; it’s too low and gruff for me.” “Oh, not gruff; it’s a beautiful, rich contralto. It’s quite a pleasure to hear her.” “Oh, you think so because she likes your playing, and butters you up! But, anyhow, I don’t think much of it, and I do say she ought to have asked me too.” “People know you are delicate; they don’t like to bother you to take long drives,” suggested Sheila pacifically; but Effie was cross and would not be amiable, though she ceased to make complaints about not being asked with Sheila to the Manor. “How are you going?” “I thought I would ride Shamrock. Then I should be quite independent. Cyril is going there for a day’s fishing, and he can bring me back.” Again Effie’s face darkened. She did not say anything this time, but she had a feeling as though Sheila was cutting her out of everything. She was keenly alive to the fact that, though Cyril’s visits were paid more frequently now, it was Sheila who engrossed the bulk of his notice. Effie, with all her tendency to selfishness, fostered by her mode of life, had not naturally an ignoble disposition, and her ideals were high. She fought rather hard against the tide of rising jealousy, and had never betrayed it either to Sheila or to her mother; but the pain of seeing another preferred to herself rankled rather keenly; and during these past days—indeed for a week or two now—it had been hard work to keep down the unworthy feeling.