friends will be here to-morrow; it'll be so quiet and nice. And on
Monday we shall go to the theatre, just for a change. And I'm not
going to think of those people. It's all settled. I shall live very
quietly indeed.'

She banged on the piano till nearly eleven o'clock, and went off to
bed with a smile of virtuous contentment.

The guests who arrived on Sunday morning were Mr. and Mrs. Grove,
Mr. Bilton, and Mr. Dunnill. Mrs. Grove was Emmeline's elder sister,
a merry, talkative, kindly woman. Aware of the circumstances, she at
once made friends with Miss Derrick, and greatly pleased that young
lady by a skilful blending of "superior" talk with easy homeliness.
Mr. Bilton, a stockbroker's clerk, represented the better kind of
City young man--athletic, yet intelligent, spirited without
vulgarity a breezy, good-humoured, wholesome fellow. He came down on
his bicycle, and would return in the same way. Louise at once made a
resolve to learn cycling.

'I wish you lived at Sutton, Mr. Bilton. I should ask you to teach
me.'

'I'm really very sorry that I don't,' replied the young man
discreetly.

'Oh, never mind. I'll find somebody.'

The fourth arrival, Mr. Dunnill, was older and less affable. He
talked chiefly with Mr. Grove, a very quiet, somewhat careworn man;
neither of them seemed able to shake off business, but they did not