Caroline's dinner table, though in
a very different way.

"I think I saw you in church yesterday morning!" he remarked, by way of
introducing a discordant subject.

"Yes," replied Erica, "I have been staying at Oakdene Manor, and had a
most delicious time."

"Sharing Mr. Farrant's philanthropic labors?" asked Mr. Cuthbert, with
his unpleasant smile.

She laughed.

"No; I have been thoroughly lazy, and September is their holiday month,
too. You would have been amused to see us the other evening all hard at
work making paper frogs like so many children."

"Paper frogs!" said Mr. Cuthbert, with an intonation that suggested
sarcasm.

"Yes; have you ever seen them?" asked Erica. "I don't think many people
know how to make them. Feltrino taught me when I was a little girl I'll
show you, if you like."

"Did you ever meet Feltrino?" asked Lady Caroline.

She knew very little of the Italian patriot. In his life time he
had been despised and rejected, but he was now dead; his biography a
well-written one was in all the circulating libraries, and even those
who were far from agreeing with his political views, had learned
something of the nobility of his character. So there was both surprise
and envy in Lady Caroline's tone; she had a weakness for celebrities.

"I saw him once when I was seven years old," said Erica. "He knew
my father, and one day we were overtaken by a tremendous shower, and
happened to meet Feltrino, who made us come into his rooms and wait till
it was over. And while they talked Italian politics I sat and watched
him. He had the most wonderful eyes I ever saw, and presently, looking
up and seeing me, he laughed and took me on his knee, saying that
politics must not spoil my holiday, and that he would show me how
to make Japanese frogs. Once, when he was imprisoned, and was hardly
allowed to have any books, the making of those frogs kept him from going
mad, he said."

While she spoke she had been deftly folding a sheet of paper, and
several people were watching curiously. "Before very long, the frog
was completed, and the imitation proved so clever that there was an
unanimous chorus of approval and admiration. Every one wanted to learn
how to make them; the Feltrino frogs became the topic of the afternoon,
and Erica fairly conquered the malicious tongues. She was superintending
Lady Caroline's first attempt at a frog, when a familiar name made her
look up.

"Mr. Cunningham Mr. Leslie Cunningham.