It was scarcely to be wondered at, therefore, if Miss Devereux and Kitty, living as they did within two miles of each other, should soon have become intimate. They were in the habit of seeing each other several times a week, a fact which Godfrey, from a distance, had felt somewhat inclined to resent. “When I get home I shall find this girl continually in the house,” he said to himself; and when he _did_ arrive and the many charming qualities of her friend had been explained to him he did not feel any the more disposed to be cordial. “I can see what it will be,” he said to his sister, “I shall not catch a glimpse of you now.” “Perhaps you won’t want to when you meet Molly,” was the arch rejoinder. “You have no idea what a pretty girl she is. They say she created a tremendous sensation when she was presented this year. Folks raved about her.” “The bigger duffers they,” was the uncompromising reply. “You have one fault, my dear girl. Ever since I have known you your swans have invariably turned out to be geese. I fancy I can realize what Miss Devereux will be like.” “In that case pray describe her,” was the saucy rejoinder, and Miss Kitty made a very pretty losing hazard (they were playing billiards at the time), after which she failed to score and chalked her cue. Now it seems scarcely fair to say so, but Godfrey, being taken at a disadvantage, fell back on what can be only considered by all honest people a mean device. In describing Miss Devereux he used the almost identical terms used by Fensden when he had attempted to draw a picture of his friend’s future wife. “You are quite at sea,” said Miss Kitty, patting her dainty shoe with the end of her cue as she spoke. “Some day, if you are not very careful, I will tell Miss Devereux what you have said about her. She would never forgive you the large feet and thick boots.” “As you are strong be merciful,” said Godfrey, potting the red into the right-hand pocket and going into the left himself. “I don’t mind admitting without prejudice that I am getting anxious to see this paragon. When do you think she will next honour you with her society?” “On Friday,” Kitty replied. “We have taken up wood-carving together, and she is coming to see some patterns I bought in town last week.” “In that case we will defer consideration of her merits and demerits--for I suppose she has some--until then,” Godfrey replied, and then once more going into the pocket off the red he announced the game as standing at one hundred to ninety-five.