"I believe I really _am_ having my chance," she reflected. "I know pretty nearly everybody who is worth knowing here now." And then, as so often happened when Gertrude contemplated her matrimonial prospects, a vision of Reggie Alston rose up before her, and disturbed her serenity. "Reggie _was_ a nice boy--it is a pity he is poor," she thought regretfully, and then she suddenly sprang into a sitting posture, all thought of sleep completely banished from her mind. Reggie's birthday! It had come and gone weeks ago and she had missed it--she had completely forgotten it! What must Reggie have thought? She glanced at the clock; there was just time to scribble a note before she dressed for the picnic, and of course, though she had no wish to encourage Reggie's friendship, yet a birthday was a special occasion, and had she remembered it she would certainly have written! Why, it was on Easter Monday! No wonder she had forgotten it! Mrs. Henchman had sent all her young party and several other friends off for a lovely expedition to an old castle, and Audrey had been hostess and had felt herself tied to the luncheon basket and the elder guests, while Cecil Greyburne and Gertrude had wandered about together all day and she had never once thought of Reggie. But she ought to have written on the Friday or Saturday. She remembered how they had all come in late from a long walk, and Cecil had discovered that the country post had gone out, and he had not sent off a particular letter and an Easter card. He had fumed and worried to such an extent that she had thought it really unnecessary, and wondered whoever could be of such importance to him. Then Charlie had recollected that there was a later country post in Dennetford and Cecil had sat down at Charlie's desk and written furiously, and enclosed a lovely Easter card--Gertrude had seen enough of it to know that--and then, without waiting for even a cup of tea, he had ridden off to Dennetford as if his very life depended on catching that post! If she had only thought of Reggie's birthday, Cecil would have posted the letter with his, as he posted one for Charlie. She went hot all over as she suddenly realised that Charlie's letter must have been a birthday letter for Reggie. She distinctly remembered Charlie's words, "It will reach Scotland on Monday morning." Charlie might have reminded her! Hastily now she gathered her writing materials and wrote Reggie his long delayed birthday letter, and in her haste and regret she forgot all about her casual on-the-top-of-things style, and though the letter was very short it was just such a letter as she had written him before these new ideas came into her head. "I am rushing off to a picnic with the Stacey people, so cannot write more," she ended up. "We are going to the Roman Hill. Do you remember how we went there last year and what a jolly time we had?" Simple words--and yet Reggie treasured them like gold-dust.