"I shall have a great deal to do with you in future, my dear," said Lady Helen, and then she looked at father, and they both laughed. "The very first thing I want you to see about, kind Lady Helen," said father, in his most chivalrous manner, "is this poor, sweet child's wardrobe. She wants simply everything. Will you take her to the shops to-morrow and order for her just what she requires?" Lady Helen smiled and nodded. "We shall be in time to have her presented." Lady Helen bent her face towards father's and whispered something. He turned very white. "Never mind," he said; "I always thought that presentation business was a great waste of time, and I am quite sure that we shall do well for little Heather without it." "I am so tired," I could not help saying. "Then home we'll go, my girl. Lady Helen, I will call early to-morrow and bring Heather with me, if I may. Whatever happens, she must be properly dressed." "I shall be ready to receive you, Major, at eleven o'clock," said Lady Helen, and then she touched my hand coldly and indifferently, but smiled with her brilliant eyes at my father. Her motor-car was waiting for her; she was whirled away, and we drove back in our brougham to the hotel. "Well, Heather," said my father, "what a wonderful day this must have been for you. Tell me how you felt about everything. You used to be such an outspoken little child. Didn't you just love the play, eh?" "I loved the beginning of it," I said. "You naughty girl! You mean to say you didn't like the end--all that part about Rosalind when she comes on the stage as a boy?" "I could not see it, father--I could only see the back of your head; and oh, father, your head is getting very bald, but the back of Lady Helen's head isn't bald at all--it is covered with thick, thick hair, which goes out very wide at the sides and comes down low on her neck." "It's my belief she wears a wig, Heather," said my father, bending towards me. "But we won't repeat it, will we, darling? So she and I took up all your view, poor little girl! Well, we did it in thoughtlessness." "I don't think she did," I answered stoutly "I think she wanted to talk to you." "She'll have plenty of time for that in the future," he said; "but tell me now, before we get to the hotel, what do you think of her ladyship? She's a very smart-looking woman--eh?" "I don't know what that means, father, but I don't like her at all." "You don't like her--why, child?" "I can't say; except that I don't." "Oh, you mustn't give way to silly fancies," said my father. "She's a very fine woman. You oughtn't to turn against her, my dear Heather." "Do you like her, father?" I asked, nestling up to him and slipping my hand into his. "Awfully, my dear child; she's my very dearest friend." "Oh! not dearer than I am?" I said, my heart beating hard. He made no reply to this, and my heart continued to beat a great deal faster than was good for it.