CHAPTER VIII--SNOBBISHNESS 



"Why then should vain repinings rise, That to thy lover fate denies A nobler name, a wide domain?"--SCOTT. 

The friendship with the Sisters was about three weeks old when, one morning, scaffold poles were being erected in the new side aisle of St. Kenelm's Church, and superintending them was a tall dark-haired young man. There was a start of mutual recognition; and by and by he met Paula and Vera in the porch, and there were eager hand-clasps and greetings, as befitted old friends meeting in a strange place. 

"Mr. Hubert! I heard you were coming!" 

"Miss Vera! Miss Paula! This is a pleasure." 

Then followed an introduction of Sister Mena, whose elder companion was away, attending a sick person. 

"May I ask whether you are living here?" 

"Two miles off at the Goyle, at Arnscombe, with our sister." 

"So I heard! I shall see you again." And he turned aside to give an order, bowing as he did so. 

"Is he the artist of those sweet designs?" asked Sister Mena. 

"Did we not tell you?" 

"And now he is going to execute them? How delicious!" 

"I trust so! We must see him again. We have not heard of Edie and Nellie, nor any one." 

"He will call on you?" said Sister Mena. 

"I do not think so," said Paula. "At least his father is really an artist, but he is drawing-master at the High School, and Hubert works for this firm. They are not what you call in society, and our sister is all for getting in with Lady Merrifield and General Mohun and all the swells, so it would never do for him to call." 
Does Paula think Mr. Hubert will actually visit?
it would never do for him to call."