e to offend you?'

'You? by no means. But I do not wish to assist in any of the Nugent
decorations. I am not so fond of the family as you may imagine; Lady
Mary and Miss Nugent are less than indifferent to me. Lady Mary is a
mere manoeuvrer, that no straightforward person could like; and Miss
Nugent is a mere handsome wax figure, with such clever machinery inside,
that she can literally say the words, "mamma thaith." I have heard of a
doll who could say "mamma," but she is still cleverer.'

'Colonel Vaughan bit his lips, knit his forehead, but smiled. 'You are
severe upon your neighbours, Freda.'

'Do you admire them, then? do you think Miss Nugent altogether charming?
or will she be perfect in your eyes the day after to-morrow?'

'If perfection consists in being a beauty and an heiress, I need not go
away from Glanyravon to seek one, Freda.'

'Do you stereotype your compliments? I hear that you pay them wherever
you go, and I hate compliments, particularly from people whose good
opinion I value. Besides, I am neither a beauty nor an heiress, and to
be complimented in almost the same words as Miss Nugent is too
contemptible.'

'You do not suppose that I class you together, Freda?'

'I am thankful to say that you cannot do that, Colonel Vaughan, at least
if I know myself at all; but, after all, I may be infinitely her
inferior.'

Freda got up from her drawing with a very flushed face. She knew that
she had said more than she meant to say, and that Colonel Vaughan was
scrutinising her with his calm, collected mind and penetrating eyes.

'I am going out now, and you promised to ride with papa, I think,' she
said abruptly.

'But you must not go until you have told me how I have displeased you,'
said Colonel Vaughan, rising and detaining her. He had such a power over
her that he always wormed her thoughts out of her.

'I did not like to hear you saying what you did not mean, to Miss
Nugent,' said Freda, as if she were obliged to make a confession; 'and I
think it beneath a man like you to pay frivolous compliments to a girl
you must despise.'

'Oh, is that all! I make a point of complimenting handsome girls, _pour
passer le temps_; it is the only way of getting on with half of them.
You must forgive me this once.'

Freda looked at him, and even he, clever as he was, could not tell
whether her glance expressed pity, contempt, or love. She turned away,
and left the room without speaking; he made another movemen