f author,' said Theodora.

'In character of rational being.'

'Which you would not have made if the party had not been Georgina
Finch's.'

'I had no notion whose it was, or anything about it.'

'It is for her birthday, Tuesday,' said Violet. 'They are to have a
steamer to Richmond, walk about and dine there; but I should not think
that it would be very pleasant. Mrs. Bryanstone had one of these parties
last year to Hampton Court, and she told me that unless they were well
managed they were the most disagreeable things in the world; people
always were losing each other, and getting into scrapes. She declared
she never would have another.'

'Mrs. Bryanstone has no idea of management,' said Theodora.

'I know who has less,' said Arthur. 'Your Georgina will let every one
take their chance, and the worse predicaments people get into the louder
she will laugh.'

'There is nothing so intolerable as a woman who thinks herself too
fashionable for good manners,' said Percy.

'Is any one waiting for an answer?' asked Violet.

'There is none,' said Theodora. 'They know I mean to go.'

'To go!' exclaimed all three, who had thought the question settled by
Arthur's refusal.

'Yes, of course; I go with Georgina.'

'With Mark Gardner, and the king of the clothes-brushes, and all
their train, in moustaches and parti-coloured parasols!' cried Percy.
'Theodora, I thought you were a sensible woman.'

'I am sorry if I forfeit that claim to your regard.'

'Well, if I was your mother! However, it is devoutly to be hoped that it
may rain.'

He then changed the conversation, and no more passed on this subject
till, as he wished her good night, he said, in a low voice, 'Think
better of it, Theodora.'

'My mind is made up,' was the proud reply. In a few seconds he called
Arthur to him on the stairs. 'Arthur,' he said, 'if your sister is set
on this wrong-headed scheme, at least don't let her go with no one to
look after her. Let her have some respectable person with her, merely
for propriety's sake. She fancies me prejudiced, and we have agreed to
dispute no more on the woman's goings on; but you have the keeping of
her now.'

'I wish Mrs. Finch was at Jericho, and Theodora after her!' exclaimed
Arthur, petulantly; 'they will worry my wife to death between them.'

'Then Theodora had better go home,' said Percy, soberly.

'No, no; we can't do without her. She takes good care of Violet, and
is very attentive and useful, and