shaking off Sir Lionel's arm, she
turned and faced round upon the company. She continued to bob her
head at them all, and then made this little speech, uttering each
word very slowly.

"I wish she had a glass tongue as well, because then perhaps she'd
break it." And having so revenged herself, she suffered Miss Todd to
lead her away into the bedroom. It was clear at least that she had no
fit, and the company was thankful.

Sir Lionel, seeing how it was, left them at the door of the bedroom,
and a few minutes afterwards Miss Todd, Mrs. Flounce, and Lady Ruth's
own maid succeeded in getting her into a cab. It is believed that
after a day or two she was none the worse for what had happened, and
that she made rather a boast of having put down Miss Ruff. For the
moment, Miss Ruff was rather put down.

When Miss Todd returned to the drawing-room that lady was sitting
quite by herself on an ottoman. She was bolt upright, with her hands
before her on her lap, striving to look as though she were perfectly
indifferent to what had taken place. But there was ever and again a
little twitch about her mouth, and an involuntary movement in her eye
which betrayed the effort, and showed that for this once Lady Ruth
had conquered. Mr. Fuzzybell was standing with a frightened look at
the fireplace; while Mrs. King Garded hung sorrowing over her cards,
for when the accident happened she had two by honours in her own
hand.

When Miss Todd returned some few of her guests were at work again;
but most of the tables were broken up. "Poor dear old lady," said
Miss Todd, "she has gone home none the worse. She is very old, you
know, and a dear good creature."

"A sweet dear creature," said Mrs. Shortpointz, who loved the
peerage, and hated Miss Ruff.

"Come," said Miss Todd, "Parsnip has got a little supper for us
downstairs; shall we go down? Miss Ruff, you and I will go and call
on Lady Ruth to-morrow. Sir Lionel, will you give your arm to Lady
Longspade? Come, my dear;" and so Miss Todd took Miss Baker under
her wing, and they all went down to supper. But Miss Ruff said not
another word that night.

"Ha! ha!" said Miss Todd, poking her fan at Miss Baker, "I see all
about it, I assure you; and I quite approve."

Miss Baker felt very comfortable, but she did not altogether
understand her friend's joke.

CHAPTER VIII.

THREE LETTERS.

George Bertram, as we have seen, returned to town after his interview
with Miss Waddingto