"Pleasant?"

"Yes—I don't know—I think so."

"Armari," gravely said Cornelius, "resembles the celebrated portraits of Raffaelle. He is something more than good-looking—he is a delightful companion, and something more than pleasant."

"I am sure he is not the common-place fellow you made him out, Daisy," observed Kate.

"I did not make him out anything; I don't think about him at all," I replied, half vexed.

"Well, you need not colour up so," she said, looking surprised; "and you need not look so glum about it, Cornelius. Tastes differ."

Neither replied. Miss O'Reilly, whose whole thoughts were absorbed in hospitality, did not notice this, but added, with a start:

"How long are they to stay?"

"Two or three weeks."

"Then ask them to spend those two or three weeks here," she rejoined, triumphantly. "I have bed-rooms to spare, you know."