d, moreover, it
would appear very discourteous in you to absent yourself the first
evening that these strangers spend here. Ulpian would be displeased."

"According to your statement a few minutes since, that is his chronic
condition, as far as I am concerned; and, as I do not belong to the
mimosa species, I think I may brave his frowns."

"That is not the worst you have to apprehend. Child, I think it would
be bitter indeed, to bear Ulpian Grey's contempt."

"I shall take care not to deserve it; and Dr. Grey never forgets to be
just."

"My dear little girl, what right have you to be jealous of his love
for his young ward?"

The flame that was slowly dying out of her face leaped up fiercer than
before, and she crimsoned to the edges of her hair.

"Jealous! Good heavens, Miss Jane, you must be dreaming! I merely
question the taste that allows his 'lady-like' favorite to caress him
so openly, and should not have expressed my disapprobation so
strongly if you had not rated me soundly, and held her up as a model
for my humble imitation. If she and her governess are to stir up
strife between you and me, I shall heartily wish them a speedy passage
to Halifax or heaven. Beyond all peradventure I shall get murderously
jealous if you dare to give this sloe-eyed, peony-faced girl, my place
in your dear old heart. She, of course, will fondle her guardian as
much as she pleases, or as often as he sees fit to allow; but woe unto
her if I catch her hands and lips about you, my dearest and best
friend! Don't scold me and praise her, or some fine day I shall jump
at and strangle her, which you know would not be 'well-bred' or
'lady-like,' much less moral and Christian."

She almost smothered the old lady in her arms, and kissed her several
times.

"What has stirred up the evil spirit in you? You look as wicked as
your mother Herodias, thirsting for the blood of John the Baptist; or
as Jezebel plotting against the prophet--"

"And telling me that like her I am 'going to the dogs' is not the
surest way to reform me. Stanley! Stanley! get your hat and come
here."

"Your awful temper will be your ruin if you don't put a curb-bit on
it. See here, Salome, don't be so utterly silly and childish! I do not
wish you to go to the sea-shore this evening."

"Please, Miss Jane, don't order me to stay at home, because, then of
course, I should feel bound to obey you, and I should not behave
prettily, and you would wish me at the bottom