---- It would sound like exaggeration to say
what.

There was Mrs Iver to be said good-by to--plump, peaceful, proper Mrs
Iver, whom nothing had great power to stir save an unkindness and an
unconventionality; before either of these she bristled surprisingly.

"I hope you've all enjoyed this lovely afternoon," she said to Mina.

"Oh, yes, we have, Mrs Iver--not quite equally perhaps, but still----"

Mrs Iver sighed and kissed her.

"Men are always the difficulty, aren't they?" said the Imp.

"Poor child, and you've lost yours!"

"Yes, poor Adolf!" There was a touch of duty in Mina's sigh. She had
been fond of Adolf, but his memory was not a constant presence. The
world for the living was Madame Zabriska's view.

"I'm so glad Janie's found a friend in you--and a wise one, I'm sure."

Mina did her best to look the part thus charitably assigned to her; her
glance at Janie was matronly, almost maternal.

"Not that I know anything about it," Mrs Iver pursued, following a train
of thought obvious enough. "I hope she'll act for her happiness, that's
all. There's the dear Major looking for you--don't keep him waiting,
dear. How lucky he's your uncle--he can always be with you."

"Until he settles and makes a home for himself," smiled Mina
irrepressibly; the rejuvenescence--nay, the unbroken youth--of her
relative appeared to her quaintly humorous, and it was her fancy to
refer to him as she might to a younger brother.

There was Mr Iver to be said good-by to.

"Come again soon--you're always welcome; you wake us up, Madame
Zabriska."

"You promised to say Mina!"

"So I did, but my tongue's out of practice with young ladies' Christian
names. Why, I call my wife 'Mother'--only Janie says I mustn't. Yes,
come and cheer us up. I shall make the uncle a crack player before long.
Mustn't let him get lazy and spend half the day over five o'clock tea,
though."

This was hardly a hint, but it was an indication of the trend of Mr
Iver's thoughts. So it was a dangerous ball, and that clever little
cricketer, the Imp, kept her bat away from it. She laughed; that
committed her to nothing--and left Iver to bowl again.

"It's quite a change to find Harry Tristram at a tea-party, though!
Making himself pleasant too!"

"Not to me," observed Mina decisively.

"You chaffed him, I expect. He stands a bit on his dignity. Ah well,
he's young, you see."

"No, he chaffed me. Oh, I think I--I left off even, you know."

"They g