Roma smiled, but only to please Maud. She was fond of the bright-faced impulsive girl; but it was to very few that the young artist extended her friendship. ‘I am glad he pleases you. Long-delayed meetings do not always turn out so well.’ ‘He is perfect!’ Maud cried ecstatically. ‘Oh, Roma, we are going to live at Ladywell almost directly, and Aunt Olive too. Won’t it be lovely to escape from that dreadful Aunt Celia! Things are a little better now Phil is here, for he won’t let anyone bully me, and nobody tries; but it will be splendid to escape altogether, and to be mistress of a big house, and to have nobody to order me about. You must come often to see me, Roma; we will have delightful times there!’ Everything was _couleur de rose_ to Maud now, and she was delighted to pour out her soul to her friend. Roma put down her tools and sat down to listen, her quiet face expressing a certain amount of sympathy, but no excitement. Maud thought her almost more grave than usual. ‘But you must come and see him yourself, Roma!’ cried the girl, suddenly jumping up. ‘It is almost time we were going, so you must come. I’m sure Uncle Michael would want you to see him. He is amusing him so nicely with his stories.’ Tor had already risen to go, had promised to repeat his visit soon, and was looking about for Maud, when the door opened, and she came in, with Roma following. ‘My daughter, Philip,’ said the old man, detecting at once the well-known, quiet tread. ‘You must be friends.’ They shook hands, and exchanged a few sentences, and then the guests took their departure. ‘Isn’t she lovely?’ asked Maud, the moment they were out of earshot. ‘Roma, I mean; isn’t she perfectly beautiful?’ ‘She is very handsome, and she has splendid eyes, and a beautifully modulated voice; but is she not very haughty?’ ‘Well, perhaps she is. I thought she seemed so to-day. Perhaps it is her way with strangers: she goes out so very little. Don’t you admire her very much?’ ‘Yes, I admire her beauty; but it isn’t the style I care for most, Maud. She is just the woman Ph—Tor would rave about. That dark Italian beauty is more to his taste than mine.’ ‘Is it? He must have good taste. I wanted you to admire Roma, Phil.’ ‘So I do, little sister, and so I will; but I must be allowed to admire you more!’ Maud laughed archly. ‘You bad boy! Yes, of course you may do that. How could you help it?’ * * * * * When the father and daughter were alone together, there was a long silence between them. Roma stood behind his chair, gently smoothing his white locks with caressing fingers. The old man’s face was full of thought and purpose. ‘Roma,’ he said at length, ‘that is the man who is to be your husband.’ ‘Yes, father,’ she answered, in calm, even tones. Her dark eyes seemed to flash fire, and then the light died out and left behind a melancholy dimness; but that the blind man could not see. ‘You are willing it should be so, my daughter?’