ould have made more haste. Mrs. Bywank spoils me, Mr. Rollo,
by giving me just the same welcome whether I come early or
late. But I am very sorry if I have hindered you.'

'You have not hindered me,' he said smiling, and giving her
hand the old sort of clasp,--'except from everything I have
tried to do, for some time past.'

But that idea Miss Wych did not see fit to take up.

'What have I done,' he went on audaciously, 'to be ignored in
this fashion?'

'Ignored!' she said, opening her eyes at him.

'Will you substitute another word?' said he, looking for it in
the orbs so revealed. Wych Hazel turned off.

'Will you come to luncheon, sir?' she said; so exactly as if
she were speaking to Mr. Falkirk, that Mrs. Bywank looked up
in mute amazement.

But lunch was not to have much attention, nevertheless. Dingee
began a raid on the housekeeper's room. It was:

'Mas' Nightingale, Missee Hazel.'

'Mas' May and--Miss May, ma'am.--'

'Mrs. Powder, Missee Hazel--and all de rest!' added Dingee. '
'Spect dere ain't a livin' soul _won't_ be there, time I get
back. Miss Fisher, she done ask for Mas' Rollo. But I'se
learnin' to tell the truf fustrate.'

'What is the truth about me, Dingee?' asked that gentleman. 'I
should be glad to hear it.'

'Well, sir,' said Dingee, standing attention, 'she 'quire
'bout you. So I say, "Mas' Rollo, he done come dis mornin',
sure,--but my young mistiss she out. So he done gone straight
away from de door, ma'am." Mighty glad she never ask which
way!' added Dingee with a chuckle. Wych Hazel held down her
head, laughing the sweet laugh which would come now and then,
in the worst of times.

'Run away,' she said, 'and say I am coming. I must go, Byo--if
Mr. Rollo will excuse me. And as he came to see you, I suppose
he will!'

But Mr. Rollo went away without his luncheon, after all.

CHAPTER XXXV.

FIGURES AND FAVOURS.

The very night after this affair of the ticket, came a
'German,' pure and simple, at one of the far-off houses of the
neighbourhood. The daughters here were of Miss Fisher's
persuasion; and among them they had arranged the whole affair.
This should be a 'German,' and nothing else. Kitty Fisher was
to lead, and neither quadrille nor country dance would be
tolerated for a moment. Miss Kennedy found on her arrival
that, for this night at least, round dances were paramount: it
was such, or none. Well, she thought she could stand it, at
first,--there were enough pe