her court yet must she have
you also--see how she summons you!"

"Summons me--me, mam?" enquired the Major, a little breathlessly.
"Nay, I see no summons!"

"With her eyes, sir!"

"Indeed she doth but glance this way."

"I know that trick o' the eyelash, sir! But as I say, Bet hath been
spoiled by a too implicit masculine obedience, she groweth more
imperious daily. If she but had someone to thwart her a little, cross
her occasionally, 'twould do her a world of good."

"Certainly, mam!" he answered, all his attention centred upon that
lovely, animated form on the lawn below.

"See--now she beckons you!"

"Egad, so she does!" he exclaimed, his eyes suddenly joyous. "Your
pardon, mam, I must--" he gasped, for, attempting to rise, he found
himself held and to his horror, perceived Lady Belinda's fingers
twisted firmly in the silver-laced lapel of his coat-pocket. "Madam,"
he exclaimed in great agitation, "I beg--for the love of----"

"Sit still, sir--'twill do her a world of good!"

"But she needs me----"

"Sir, she hath six stalwart gentlemen to do her commands, let them
suffice."

"But madam, I must----"

"Remain quiescent, sir--'twould be a sad pity to tear so fine a coat.
Bide quiet, dear Major, and work a miracle."

So perforce the Major sat there miserably enough, while, unseen by the
gay throng around her my Lady Betty continued to flash him knowledge of
her indignant surprise, anger and contempt, even while her laughter
rippled gaily to some ponderous witticism of Sir Benjamin.

"It works!" nodded Lady Belinda. "But, O Gemini, never follow her with
such sheep's-eyes, Major, nor look so unutterly forlorn or you'll spoil
all! Learn this, sir--what we humans strive for is always the thing
withheld and--Betty is very human. And that reminds me she hath lately
taken to whistling and walking in her sleep----"

"God bless my soul, mam, walking----"

"And whistling--both truly disquieting habits, sir! Morning, noon and
night I cannot set foot above stairs but she falls a-whistling--extreme
shrill and unpleasant! Lud, only last night, the place being hushed in
sleep and everything so weird and churchyardy, sir, I heard a stealthy
foot--that crept! I froze with horror! None the less I seized my
candle, opened my door and--there was Betty--_en deshabille_, her hair
streaming all about her and a loaf----"

"God bless my soul, mam!"

"Clasped to her bosom with one hand, sir, a platter in the