"Nor think me weak-minded?"

"No, no. How could I?"

"Well, then--Penthony--I--_don't love you the least bit in the
world_!" declares Cecil, with a provoking, irresistible laugh,
stepping backward out of his reach.

Sir Penthony does not speak for a moment or two; then "'Sweet is
revenge, especially to women,'" he says, quietly, although at heart he
is bitterly chagrined. To be unloved is one thing--to be laughed at is
another. "After all, you are right. There is nothing in this world so
rare or so admirable as honesty. I am glad you told me no untruth, even
in jest."

Just at this instant the door opens, and Molly enters. She looks
surprised at such an unexpected spectacle as Cecil's husband sitting in
his wife's boudoir, _tete-a-tete_ with her.

"Don't be shy, dear," says Cecil, mischievously, with a little wicked
laugh; "you may come in; it is only my husband."

The easy nonchalance of this speech, the only half-suppressed amusement
in her tone, angers Sir Penthony more than all that has gone before.
With a hasty word or two to Molly, he suddenly remembers a pressing
engagement, and, with a slight bow to his wife, takes his departure.

CHAPTER XXIV.

"Take, oh! take those lips away,
That so sweetly were foresworn;
And those eyes, the break of day,
Lights that do mislead the morn:
But my kisses bring again,
Seals of love, but seal'd in vain."

--Shakespeare.

The longed-for night has arrived at last; so has Molly's dress, a very
marvel of art, fresh and pure as newly-fallen snow. It is white silk
with tulle, on which white water-lilies lie here and there, as though
carelessly thrown, all their broad and trailing leaves gleaming from
among the shining folds.

Miss Massereene is in her own room, dressing, her faithful Sarah on her
knees beside her. She has almost finished her toilet, and is looking
more than usually lovely in her London ball-dress.

"Our visit is nearly at an end, Sarah; how have you enjoyed it?" she
asks, in an interval, during which Sarah is at her feet, sewing on more
securely one of her white lilies.

"Very much, indeed, miss. They've all been excessive polite, though
they do ask a lot of questions. Only this evening they wanted to know
if we was estated, and I said, 'Yes,' Miss Molly, because after all,
you know, miss, it _is_ a property, however small; and I wasn't
going to let myself down. And then that young man of Captain Shadwell's
ast me i