Janet kissed him too, and then, scanning both brothers,
observed to her mother—-
"I think Lucas is the more altered of the two." In which sentiment
Elvira seemed to agree, for she put her hands behind her and
exclaimed—-
"O Jock, you do look such a fright; I never knew how like Janet you
were!"
"You are letting every one know what a spiteful little Elf you can
be," returned Janet, indignantly. "Can't you give poor Jock a kinder
greeting?"
Whereupon the Elf put on a cunning look of innocence and said—-
"I didn't know it was unkind to say he was like you, Janet."
The Evelyn pair had gone-—after this introduction of Jock and Sydney-
—to their own sitting-room, which opened out of that of the
Brownlows, and the door was soon unclosed, for the two families meant
to make up only one party. The two mothers seemed as if they had
been friends of old standing, and Mrs. Evelyn was looking with
delighted wonder at her eldest son, who had gained much in flesh and
in vigour ever since Dr. Medlicott's last and most successful
prescription of a more pressing subject of interest than his own
cough.
She had an influence about her that repressed all discords in her
presence, and the evening was a cheerful and happy one, leaving a
soothing sense upon all.
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