am a little perplexed, perhaps; but I have not
succumbed to anything."

"Or any _one_, I hope, unless it be to your advantage. You are playing a
silly game, Olga."

"The world would be lost unless it had a fool to sport with now and
then."

"But why should _you_ be the one to pander to its pleasures?"

"Who more fitting? I am tired of hearing you apply that word 'silly' to
me, morning, noon, and night."

"It is too late to believe it possible that you and I should quarrel,"
says Mrs. Herrick, in a perfectly even tone: "so don't try to get up an
imaginary grievance. You know you are dearer to me than anything on
earth, after the children."

"Well, don't scold me any more," says Olga, coaxingly.

"I never scold; I only reason."

"Oh! but that is so much worse," says Olga. "It means the scolding, and
a lot more besides. Do anything but reason with me, my dear Hermia."

"I _will_ say that I think you are throwing yourself away."

"Where? Over the balcony?"--wilfully. "I assure you, you misjudge me: I
am far too great a coward."

"You are not too great a coward to contemplate the committing of a much
more serious _betise_. To-night his attentions were specially marked,
and you allowed them."

"I can't think what you mean."

"Will you deny that Mr. Ronayne paid you very marked attention
to-night?"

"Marked! Where did he make his impression, then? He didn't _pinch_ me,
if you mean that."

"Of course you can follow your own wishes, dearest, and I shall neither
gain nor lose; but it does seem a pity, when you might be a countess and
have the world at your feet. I know few so altogether fitted to fill the
position, and still you reject it. You are pretty, clever,
charming,--everything of the most desirable."

"Am I?" She steps into the drawing-room, and brings herself by a swift
step or two opposite a huge mirror let into one of the walls. Standing
before it, she surveys herself leisurely from head to foot, and then she
smiles.

"I don't know about the 'clever,'" she says; "but I am _sure_ I am
pretty. In town last season--do you remember?--my hair created quite a
furore, it is so peculiarly light. Ever so many people wanted to paint
me. Yes, it was all very pleasant."

"Do you think it will be as pleasant to live _here_ all your days, and
find no higher ambition than the hope that your ponies may be prettier
than Mrs. So-and-so's?"

"Do you remember that fancy ball, and how the prince asked who I was,