By Berwen Banks

Gwladys seemed more unnerved by the meeting than Valmai, for she

trembled with eagerness as she drew the new-comer nearer to the window,

where the evening light shone upon the fresh pure face, so completely

the image of her own, that both were impelled over and over again to

renew their embraces, and to cling closely together.

When William entered with the lights, they were seated on the sofa with

clasped hands, and arms thrown round each other's necks.

"Please, m'm, is the carriage to go or to stay?"

"Oh, to go--to go, of course," said Gwladys, rising to her feet.

"I have paid him," said Valmai; "but I couldn't be sure, you know,

whether--whether--"

"No, darling, of course. Auntie, auntie, awake and see who has come."

Mrs. Besborough Power blinked lazily.

"Dinner?" she said.

"No, no, auntie, not for another hour, it is only seven o'clock; but do

wake up and see who has come."

But the sight of the strange girl had already recalled her aunt to her

senses; her beady black eyes were fixed upon her, and her high-bridged

nose seemed to be aiding them in their inquiries, as she pressed her

lips together, and sniffed in astonishment.

"Gwladys," she said, "is it possible that I have invited anyone to

dinner, and then forgotten it?"

Gwladys had removed her sister's hat, and as she stood now before Mrs.

Power, in the full light of the lamp and the fire, that poor lady was

smitten by the same bewilderment which had taken possession of William

at the front door. She could only ejaculate: "Gracious goodness, Gwladys! What is the meaning of this? Who is it,

child? and which are you? Are you this one or that one? For heaven's

sake say something, or I shall be quite confused."

"It's Valmai, auntie, my twin-sister, though you could not remember her

name, but of whom I have thought often and often. Auntie, you will

welcome her for my sake? Is she not the very image of me? alike--nay,

not so, but the same, the very same, only in two bodies. Oh, Valmai!

Valmai! why have we been separated so long?" and, sinking into a chair,

she trembled with agitation.

Mrs. Power held her hands out, though not very cordially. She was

beginning to arrange her ideas.

"Welcome her! Why, of course, of course. How do you do, my dear?

Very glad to see you, I am sure, though I can't think where you have

dropped from. Gwladys, calm yourself; I am surprised at you. I

thought you were in Figi, or Panama, or Macedonia, or some place of

that kind."

"Patagonia," said Valmai, smiling. "My parents both died there, and I

have come home to live in Wales again--"