"It is all very well for you to talk," Henry said, and for Giles, too. You can be at university and have lots of fun. And Giles will not miss Roedean as I will. Even during the Christmas vacation he stayed in London most of the time, socializing."

"Well, if it's socializing you want, Henry"-Giles grinned-"you will soon have plenty of it."

"You are not going to mention that, are you?" Henry asked with a menacing frown.

"From tomorrow on, my dear Henrietta," her brother taunted, "it is going to be ball dresses and slippers and frizzed curls and bonnets and gloves for you. And balls and breakfasts and routs. Marian has your come-out all planned, you know."

"Don't be horrid!" Henry said, throwing herself in fury at her brother's chest and punching him soundly with flailing fists.

"Hey, watch it, you little termagent," he yelped between laughs. He grabbed for her wrists. "There will be a line of suitors a mile long coming to throw themselves at your feet, and bouquets and posies and proposals by the score," he continued, tempting fate.

"Oh, you!" Henry blustered, aiming a kick at her brother's shin. "I should rather die. I won't do it, so there! And I

shall tell Marian so, too. She can't force me into anything so horrid."

"I don't think you need worry, anyway, Henry," Douglas said soothingly, but not too wisely, "I don't think you are in any danger of taking with the ton."

"Oh?" Henry had gone very still, her fight with her brother forgotten.

While George coughed warningly and Giles grinned appreciatively, Douglas continued. "Well, look at you, Henry," he said. "Even with girl's clothes on, you look rather like a boy masquerading. You do not do anything as ladies do.

"I do not have a large bosom, either, Douglas," she said, fixing him with a severe eye.

He had the grace to blush. I was just trying to reassure you that you do not have to worry about attracting the men," he mumbled uneasily.