ou broke his heart," says Miss Priscilla.

"Tell us about it, auntie," says Kit, eagerly, who is always sympathetic
where romance is concerned; but the old ladies only laugh the more at
this, and Aunt Priscilla tells her how her Aunt Penelope was a very
naughty girl in her time, and created havoc in the affections of all the
young men that came within her reach.

All this delights Aunt Penelope, who laughs consumedly and makes feeble
protest with her hands against this testimony.

"Poor fellow!" she says, sobering down presently, and looking quite
remorseful. "It is unkind to laugh when his name is mentioned. He was
killed in the Indian Mutiny, long afterwards, in a most gallant charge."

"Yes, indeed," says Miss Priscilla. "Well, well, things _will_ happen.
Go on with the answer now, Penelope, as the man is waiting and it is
woefully late."

Monica trembles. But Kit starts into life.

"Oh, _don't_ refuse, Aunt Priscilla!" she cries, darting from her seat
and throwing her arms round Miss Blake's neck. "_Don't_, now! I do so
_want_ to go, when I have got my invitation, and all."

"But----" begins Miss Priscilla; whereupon Kit, tightening her hold on
her neck, with a view to staying further objection, nearly strangles
her.

"No 'buts,'" she says, entreatingly; "Remember how disappointed I was
about Madam O'Connor's, and be good to me now."

"Bless the child!" breaks out Miss Priscilla, having rescued her
windpipe and so saved herself from instant suffocation by loosening
Kit's arms, and then drawing the child down upon her knee. "What is she
talking about? who is going to refuse anything? Penelope, accept at
once,--_at once_, or I shall be squeezed to death!"

"Then you _will_ go?" exclaims Monica, joining the group near the
davenport, and turning brilliant eyes upon her aunts. "Oh, I am so
glad!"

"Why, we are dying to see the inside of the Barracks again, your aunt
Penelope and I, especially your aunt Penelope," says Miss Blake, with a
sly glance at her sister, who is plainly expecting it, "because she has
tender recollections about her last visit there."

"Oh, now, Priscilla!" says Miss Penelope, modestly, but with keen
enjoyment of the joke. After which an acceptance of his kind invitation
is written to Captain Cobbett, and borne to him by the destroyer of
Timothy's peace.

CHAPTER X.

How Monica falls a prey to the green-eyed monster--How Mr. Kelly
improves the shining hours--And how Brian