"Well, partly that, perhaps, and because Uncle Guy has taken such a fancy to you. Mother says she's very glad he has, and grandfather's pleased, but I'm sure Doris is jealous; and—and she was so put out when she heard grandfather had driven you to T—. Doris is like that, you know; she's jealous of me, too, if she thinks any one likes me better than her. Don't you worry about it."
"Oh, but I'm so sorry!" exclaimed Felicia. "If I had known she would have liked that drive with grandfather so much, I would have asked him to take her instead of me. Did she see much of Uncle Guy before I came?"
"Oh, no!"
"Then why should she mind?"
"Of course there's no real reason why she should, but she does. Mother says jealous people are never reasonable. Never mind her—if she likes to keep herself to herself we'll let her. She'll have a dull afternoon at the Vicarage, for Miss Barton's gone out with mother, and father's gone to watch the village lads play cricket. Why, Felicia, surely that's Uncle Guy standing at the front door!"
"Yes, and he sees us. I believe he's coming here. He spent quite a long while in the garden yesterday, and afterwards he said he thought it had done him good. Shall we go and meet him?" And springing to her feet, Felicia ran across the lawn and caught her uncle by the hand. "Come and sit under the arbutus tree with Molly and me, Uncle Guy," she said coaxingly; "it's so cool and pleasant there."
"So I thought," he replied with a smile. "I've been watching you two from my sitting-room window, wondering what you've been talking about so seriously. I suppose you have a great many secrets—eh? Well, Molly, how's the world serving you? Very well? That's good hearing. Oh, I'm to sit between you, am I?"
"Yes, do," Molly rejoined, thinking what a nice face her uncle had when he smiled, and what a pity it was he did not always look so good-tempered. "Are you comfortable? Shall I fetch some cushions?"
"No, no, I'm all right; my back's on its best behaviour to-day. But I'm afraid I've interrupted a confidential talk—eh, Molly? Where is Doris, by the way?"
"She preferred to remain at home," Molly answered, with a touch of reserve in her tone, whilst Felicia looked embarrassed—two facts, neither of which passed unnoticed by their uncle, though he did not remark upon them.