other and
her eyes--O sir, so wide and sightless! And her motion--so horridly
ghostlike and glidy! My blood congealed instantly! But I followed,
and she led me upstairs and she led me downstairs and she led me round
about until I shivered 'twixt fright and weariness. At last I ventured
to touch her--never so lightly, sir, and--O peaceful Heaven!"

"What, mam?"

"Scarce had I done so than she--O----"

"She did what, mam, what--a Gad's name, what?"

"Awoke sir, shrieked and dropped the loaf! Then I shrieked and the
maids woke up and they shrieked and we all shrieked--O 'twas gruesome!"

"I can well believe it, mam!"

"And when she'd recovered me with burnt feathers--very noxious! it
seemed 'twas all occasioned by a foolish dream--vowed she dreamed she
was poor Jane Shore doing penance in Cheapside--though why with a loaf
heaven only knows--and here she comes at last with Mr. Marchdale--'tis
a case of Mahomet and the mount! Poor, dear young gentleman, see how
he languishes! And his eyes! So dog-like!"

Sure enough Lady Betty was approaching in animated converse with her
attendant swain but as she passed, the fan she had been using fell and
lay unnoticed within a yard of the Major's trim shoe. Stooping, he
picked it up, turned it over in reverent fingers then, seeing Betty had
passed on, laid it tenderly upon the table whence Lady Belinda
immediately took it and unfolding it, fanned herself complacently.

"I protest the sun is very warm here, Major," she sighed, "shall we
walk?"

Obediently he rose and presently found himself treading smooth turf and
vaguely aware of Lady Belinda's ceaseless prattle; chancing to lift his
eyes he was surprised to see Betty strolling before him, this time with
Lord Alvaston. As he watched, her dainty lace handkerchief fluttered
to the grass.

"Aha!" murmured Lady Belinda. Instantly the Major stepped forward but
Sir Jasper, who chanced to be near, reached it first, and lifting it
tenderly, pressed it to lips, to bosom, and sighing, gave it to Betty's
outstretched hand. The Major frowned and heartily wished himself back
in his quiet study; Lady Belinda, watching him behind her fan, laughed
softly:

"Major d'Arcy," said she, "I am thinking--deeply!"

"Indeed, mam!"

"I'm thinking that, after all, 'twill mayhap be as well if we agree to
wed Betty to yourself----" The Major gasped. "Since you worship her
so devotedly!"

"Mam--madam!" he stammered, "how did you lea