"No. We don't mean to return it," said Elizabeth composedly; "we did not like her enough to wish to make an acquaintance of her. It is no good to put ourselves out, and waste our own time and theirs, for people whom we are sure not to care about, and who would not care about us, is it?" "But I think you would like her if you knew her, Miss King," pleaded Paul, much disturbed by this threatened downfall of his schemes. "I am sure--at least, I have always heard, and I can speak a little from personal knowledge--that she is a particularly nice woman; thoroughly kind and amiable, and, at the same time, having a good position in society, and a remarkably pleasant house, where you might meet interesting people whom you _would_ like. Oh, don't condemn her at first sight in that way! First impressions are so seldom to be trusted. Go and call, at any rate--indeed, you know, you ought to do that, if only for form's sake." "For politeness, do you mean? Would it be rude not to return her call?" "It would be thought so, of course." "Ah, I was not sure--I will call then. I don't _mind_ calling in the least. If she has done us a kindness, it is right to acknowledge it in whatever is the proper way. It was my sisters--especially Patty--who took a dislike to her, and particularly wished not to see her again. Patty thought she asked too many questions, and that she came from some motive of curiosity to pry into our affairs. She was certainly a little impertinent, I thought. But then, perhaps, ladies in 'the world' don't look at these things as we have been accustomed to do," added Elizabeth humbly. "I don't think they do," said Paul. By this time they had reached the gate through which Patty and Eleanor had passed before them out of the gardens. As they silently emerged into the road, they saw the pair flitting along the pavement a considerable distance ahead of them, and when they turned the corner into Myrtle Street both the slender black figures had disappeared. Paul wondered to see himself so irritated by this trifling and inevitable circumstance. He felt that it would have done him good to speak to Patty, if it were only to quarrel with her. Elizabeth bade him good-night when she reached the gate of No. 6, where the hall door stood open--putting her warm, strong hand with motherly benevolence into his. "Good-night, Miss King. I am so glad to have seen you," he responded, glaring fiercely at the balcony and the blank window overhead. "And--and you will return that call, won't you?" "O yes--of course. We will walk there on Monday, as we come home from the Library. We are able to find our way about in Melbourne very well now, with the help of the map you were so kind as to give us when we first came. I can't tell you how useful that has been."