"_What_ did you add?" Jill was impatient. "Do go on." She shook his arm. "Well. I said..." he began to stammer a little. "I s-said I hoped she'd stay with us--our first vi-visitor, you know. _Don't_ be cross..." But Jill's answer swiftly dispelled the man's doubts. For she flung her arms round his neck and kissed him, her face radiant. "So have I! I mean I wrote to Mother myself yesterday. Isn't it funny? I gave it to Roddy to hand to her the moment she gets home to-morrow! That's my secret"--she drew back, her eyes thoughtful--"You see, I felt ... it was rather mean--I was so happy--to leave her out. D'you understand?" "Same here." McTaggart nodded. "I'm glad you have. It will pave the way to better relations bye and bye. She must come to us whenever she can." There fell a little pause between them. Jill's thoughts had turned back to her old life and her brother. Her grey eyes grew wistful. McTaggart saw this. He rose to his feet. "Look here, Jill--come outside. We'll have a turn up and down the deck. It will do you good before the train." "All right. Where's my ulster?" "Here." McTaggart reached up, unhooked a pale grey coat beside his own and handed it with a mischievous smile to his wife. "That's not mine." Jill stared. "Yes, it is. Try it on." "_Peter!_" Jill passed a hand lovingly over the rich fur, the beautiful collar of chinchilla and sumptuous lining--warm and soft. "It's a little present. I had it made. Aunt Elizabeth got the measures. D'you like it?" Jill's face answered him. She could not speak, for very wonder. "Really mine?" she said at last. "I never saw such lovely fur! Oh, Peter! how extravagant. You mustn't spoil me like this..." "I expect payment--of a kind!" He took it--(with interest.) "Now, slip it on. There--that's fine! You look like a little Teddy bear." He opened the door and the bright light swept in, dazzling them. Blue sky and blue sea and a fresh wind, salt and keen. Far behind them lay the coast, the broad waves rolling along to the French shore and that new life they faced with the confidence of youth. "The first time," said McTaggart--"that I really knew how pretty you were, you had on a little grey fur cap. That's why I chose chinchilla for you." "But that was Rabbit!" Jill laughed. "I've never had any _good_ clothes. Until my trousseau," she said proudly and glanced down at her simple dress. McTaggart smiled in his heart, as, following up the train of thought, Jill proceeded, somewhat gravely, to hold forth on economy. "I shan't cost you very much. I can make lots of things myself. And I expect, in a place like Siena, it doesn't matter what one wears. Oh, do tell me about your house?--or is it a flat?" "Not exactly. I hope you won't be disappointed. It's rather a cheerless sort of place."