ion.

"Will you make it yours, as it should be--as it must ever be--to lead
and not to follow?" he cried, flattering incredibility trembling in his
voice.

"And why not, sir?" she demanded, now thoroughly aroused.

"Why not, indeed--since you are you?" quoth he. "It is what I had hoped
in you, and yet--and yet what I had almost feared to hope."

She frowned upon him now, so excellently had he done his work. "Why
should you have feared that?"

"Alas! I am a man of little faith--unworthy, indeed, your good opinion
since I entertained a doubt. It was a blasphemy."

She smiled again. "You acknowledge your faults with such a grace," said
she, "that we must needs forgive them. And now to show you how much
you need forgiveness. Come, children," she bade her cousins--for whose
innocence she had made apology but a moment back. "Your arm, Harry," she
begged her brother-in-law.

Sir Harry obeyed her readily, but without eagerness. In his heart he
cursed his friend Caryll for having set her on to this.

Mr. Caryll himself hung upon her other side, his eyes toward Lady
Ostermore and Hortensia, who, whilst being observed by all, were being
approached by few; and these few confined themselves to an exchange
of greetings with her ladyship, which constituted a worse offence to
Mistress Winthrop than had they stayed away.

Suddenly, as if drawn by his ardent gaze, Hortensia's eyes moved at
last from their forward fixity. Her glance met Mr. Caryll's across the
intervening space. Instantly he swept off his hat, and bowed profoundly.
The action drew attention to himself. All eyes were focussed upon him,
and between many a pair there was a frown for one who should dare thus
to run counter to the general attitude.

But there was more to follow. The Lady Mary accepted Mr. Caryll's
salutation of Hortensia as a signal. She led the way promptly, and the
little band swept forward, straight for its goal, raked by the volleys
from a thousand eyes, under which the Lady Mary already began to giggle
excitedly.

Thus they reached the countess, the countess standing very rigid in her
amazement, to receive them.

"I hope I see your ladyship well," said Lady Mary.

"I hope your ladyship does," answered the countess tartly.

Mistress Winthrop's eyes were lowered; her cheeks were scarlet. Her
distress was plain, born of her doubt of the Lady Mary's purpose, and
suspense as to what might follow.

"I have not the honor of your ward's acquain