One thing Sophy discovered during the New Year's Eve ball, which was that if Moresby could not produce any young men, Rushleigh could; that one of these was well-favoured and agreeable; that, moreover, he was very unmistakably in love with her sister. It was significant in Sophy's opinion, that her sister, while speaking of John with such ready flippancy, had refrained from mentioning Doctor Fairbridge altogether. Clearly such unnatural reserve on Peggy's side did not originate from a lack of interest; no girl, Sophy's experience assured her, lacks interest in a good-looking man who favours her with a generous share of that same quality. The conclusion she arrived at, therefore, was that Peggy, being pleasantly embarrassed by his devotion, was desirous of appearing unconscious of it. Peggy introduced Doctor Fairbridge to her sister; and Sophy danced with him several times, and found him extremely entertaining. He was, and she knew it, exerting himself to create a good impression, which amiability, though not disinterested, pleased Sophy. She ranged herself promptly on his side, prepared to champion him whole-heartedly in his bid for her sister's favour. John Musgrave she refused to consider in the light of a possible rival. Mr Musgrave did not care about dancing, but he sat through one of the intervals beside Sophy in the warmth of the great fire in the hall and asked her several astonished questions relative to her work, and showed surprise when she informed him that she had drawn up some of the plans for the reconstruction of the home farm-buildings. He did not, she perceived, take either herself or her work quite seriously; but that did not trouble Sophy. "It is such an amazing profession for a young lady," he remarked gravely. "Why?" inquired Sophy. "It seems so to me," he replied, unable, he found, to explain further. "These new ideas appear to me fantastic. It's a reversion of things. Women's sphere should be the home." "Well," said Sophy, smiling, "that's where my sphere lies mainly. I plan homes--for other people. It isn't a new idea really. Abroad, you know, the women build the home--the blacks, I mean. Aunt Ruby says the women make all those jolly ill-constructed huts; they cut the poles, and do everything. I'd like to go out and teach them how to construct them properly, with some idea of ventilation other than a doorway." She laughed cheerfully, and held a daintily-gloved hand to the flames. "Wouldn't it be awful if we had to sit here with the door open to let the smoke escape?" Mr Musgrave looked round the beautiful old hall, looked at the several couples seated on the broad oak staircase, looked into his companion's young, fresh, smiling face, and smiled too. "It would be unpleasantly draughty," he allowed. She lifted her white shoulders expressively.