owed by the singing of "Old
Hundred" or "Come, ye Sinners, Poor and Needy," on the homeward
journey.

In the parlor the younger lads and lasses were playing "snap and catch
'em" and similar games. The portly Dutch clock gazed down benignly on
the scene, its face shining good-humoredly like the round visage of
some comfortable burgher. "Green grow the rushes, O!" came from many
merry-makers. "Kiss her quick and let her go" was followed by
scampering of feet and laughter which implied a doubt whether the lad
had obeyed the next injunction, "But don't you muss her ruffle, O!"
Forming a moving ring around a young girl, they sang: "There's a rose
in the garden for you, young man." A rose, indeed, or a rose-bud,
rather, with ruffles he was commanded not to "muss," but which,
nevertheless, suffered sadly!

Among these boys and girls, the patroon discovered Constance, no
longer "to the life a duchess," with gown in keeping with the "pride
and pomp of exalted station," but attired in the simple dress of
lavender she usually wore, though the roses still adorned her hair.
Shunning the entrancing waltz, the inspiring "Monnie Musk" and the
cotillion, lively when set to Christy's melodies, she had sought the
more juvenile element, and, when seen by the land baron, was circling
around with fluttering skirts. Joyous, merry, there was no hint now in
her natural, girlish ways of the capacity that lay within for varied
impersonations, from the lightness of coquetry to the thrill of
tragedy.

He did not know how it happened, as he stood there watching her, but
the next moment he was imprisoned by the group and voices were
singing:

"There he stands, the booby; who will have him for his beauty?"

Who? His eye swept the group; the merry, scornful glances fixed upon
him; the joyous, half-inviting glances; the red lips parted as in
kindly invitation; shy lips, willing lips!

Who? His look kindled; he had made his selection, and the next moment
his arm was impetuously thrown around the actress's waist.

"Kiss her quick and let her go!"

Amid the mad confusion he strove to obey the command, but a panting
voice murmured "no, no!" a pair of dark eyes gazed into his for an
instant, defiantly, and the pliant waist slipped from his impassioned
grasp; his eager lips, instead of touching that glowing cheek, only
grazed a curl that had become loosened, and, before he could repeat
the attempt, she had passed from his arms, with laughing lips a