n't. There,
let's go down, for poor dear mamma's sake, and I'll be buffer all the
evening. Whenever Bluebeard comes near you, I'll get between, and we'll
have a long talk to-morrow."

The two girls went down, to find many of the visitors arrived; and the
news of Tiny's indisposition having spread, she was surrounded directly
with kind inquirers. But she hardly heard a word that was said to her,
for her timid eyes were wandering round the room, to see if the object
of her dread had arrived; and then, noticing his absence, she sank back
in a fauteuil with a sigh of relief.

Fin mounted guard by her side, and snubbed the down off the wings of
several butterflies who came fluttering about them, her little lips
tightening into a thin smile as Sir Felix and Vanleigh were announced.

Directly they had freed themselves from their host and hostess, they
made their way to the corner of the great drawing-room, now ablaze with
gas and candles, where the sisters were together; and, in spite of Fin's
diplomacy, she found Vanleigh too much for her, as he quietly put aside
her vicious little thrusts, and ended by interposing himself between her
and Tiny--Fin being carried off by Sir Felix, whose face wore quite a
puzzled expression, so verbally nettled was his little prize.

Aunt Matty met them, carrying with her a halo of lavender wherever she
went, and exhaling the sad fragrance in every direction as she moved.
Pepine was poorly in bed, so that his mistress was able to devote the
whole of her attention to those with whom she came in contact.

"Ah, Sir Felix!" she exclaimed, "and so you've captured my saucy little
bird of a niece. You'll have to clip her wings some day," she
continued, playfully.

As she spoke she tapped Fin on each shoulder--from whence the imaginary
wings doubtless sprang--with her fan, while aunt and niece gazed in each
other's eyes.

"Yes, exactly," said Sir Felix, smiling feebly.

But somehow he did not feel comfortable, and in spite of his
after-efforts to lead Fin into conversation, he failed.

The end of it was that the little maid telegraphed to another admirer,
and had herself carried back to where she had left her sister; but Tiny
was gone.

In fact, as soon as they were left alone, Vanleigh had quietly offered
his arm.

"This room is too hot for you, Valentina," he said. "Let me take you
out of the crowd."

"Masterly inactivity," Fin had said, and the words seemed to ring in
Tiny's ear