"Did you think of going to Verner's Pride this evening, Sibylla?" asked Lionel. "Let me take you now. We shall be just in time for dinner. I'll bring you back this evening." "I don't know," hesitated Sibylla. The truth was, she had expected Frederick Massingbird to come for her. "I--think--I'll--go," she slowly said, apparently balancing some point in her mind. "If you do go, you should make haste and put your things on," suggested Miss Amilly. And Sibylla acquiesced, and left the room. "Has Mr. Jan been told that the tea's ready, I wonder?" cried Miss Deborah. Mr. Jan apparently had been told, for he entered as she was speaking: and Master Cheese--his apron off and his hair brushed--with him. Master Cheese cast an inquisitive look at the tea-table, hoping he should see something tempting upon it; eating good things forming the pleasantest portion of that young gentleman's life. "Take this seat, Mr. Jan," said Miss Amilly, drawing a chair forward next her own. "Master Cheese, have the kindness to move a little round: Mr. Jan can't see the fire if you sit there." "I don't want to see it," said literal Jan. "I'm not cold." And Master Cheese took the opportunity which the words gave to remain where he was. He liked to sit in warmth with his back to the fire. "I cannot think where papa is," said Miss Deborah. "Mr. Lionel, is it of any use asking you to take a cup of tea?" "Thank you, I am going home to dinner," replied Lionel. "Dr. West is coming in now," he added, perceiving that gentleman's approach from the window. "Miss Amilly," asked Jan, "have you been at the castor oil?" Poor Miss Amilly turned all the colours of the rainbow; if she had one weakness, it was upon the subject of her diminishing locks. While Cheese, going red also, administered to Jan sundry kicks under the table, as an intimation that he should have kept counsel. "I--took--just a little drop, Mr. Jan," said she. "What's the dose, if you please? Is it one tea-spoonful or two?" "It depends upon the age," said Jan, "if you mean taken inwardly. For you it would be--I say, Cheese, what are you kicking at?" Cheese began to stammer something about the leg of the table; but the subject was interrupted by the entrance of Sibylla. Lionel wished them good-evening, and went out with her. Outside the room door they encountered Dr. West. "Where are you going, Sybilla?" he asked, almost sharply, as his glance fell upon his daughter and Lionel. "To Verner's Pride." "Go and take your things off. You cannot go to Verner's Pride this evening." "But, papa, why?" inquired Sibylla, feeling that she should like to turn restive. "I have my reasons for it. You will know them later. Now go and take your things off without another word." Sibylla dared not openly dispute the will of her father, neither would she essay to do it before Lionel Verner. She turned somewhat unwillingly towards the staircase, and Dr. West opened the drawing-room door, signing to Lionel to wait.