'I suppose father will be back soon?'

'He said dinner-time.'

'Mr Quarmby has been telling me something which is wonderfully
good news if it's really true; but I can't help feeling doubtful.

He says that father may perhaps be made editor of The Study at
the end of this year.'

Mrs Yule, of course, understood, in outline, these affairs of the
literary world; she thought of them only from the pecuniary point
of view, but that made no essential distinction between her and
the mass of literary people.

'My word!' she exclaimed. 'What a thing that would be for us!'

Marian had begun to explain her reluctance to base any hopes on
Mr Quarmby's prediction, when the sound of a postman's knock at
the house-door caused her mother to disappear for a moment.

'It's for you,' said Mrs Yule, returning. 'From the country.'

Marian took the letter and examined its address with interest.

'It must be one of the Miss Milvains. Yes; Dora Milvain.'

After Jasper's departure from Finden his sisters had seen Marian
several times, and the mutual liking between her and them had