Berners, with grave tenderness.

"Then let it be about my _next_ ones; not these that are past and gone.
And now to a pleasant topic. The ball that we are expected to give."

"Yes, dear, that is _your_ affair. But I am ready to give you any
assistance in my power. Your cards, I believe, are all printed?"

"Yes; that was a happy idea to get the cards printed while we stopped in
New York."

"Now they only need filling up with names and dates."

"And the addition of one little word, Lyon."

"Well, and what is that?"

"_Masks._"

"MASKS!" echoed Mr. Berners, in surprise.

"MASKS," reiterated Mrs. Berners, with a smile.

"Why, my dear Sybil, what on earth do you mean?"

"Why, that our party shall be a masked, fancy-dress ball. That will be
something new in this old-fashioned neighborhood."

"Yes, and something startling to our old-fashioned neighbors," said Mr.
Berners, with a dubious shake of his head.

"So much the better. They need startling, and I intend to startle them."

"As you please, my dear, wayward Sybil. But when do you propose this
affair to come off?"

"On All-Hallow Eve."

"Good. All-Hallow Eve is the proper sort of an eldritch night for such
a piece of diablerie as a mask ball to be held," laughed Mr. Berners.

"But now, seriously, Lyon; do you really dislike or disapprove this
plan? If you do I will willingly modify it according to your judgment;
or even, if you wish it, I will willingly drop it altogether," she said,
very earnestly.

"My dear impetuous Sybil, you should make no such sacrifices, even if I
_did_ dislike or disapprove your plan; but I do neither. I dare say I
shall enjoy the masquerade as much as any one; and that it will be very
popular and quite a success. But now, dear Sybil, let me hear what
fantastic shape you will assume at this witches' dance?"

"I will tell _you_, Lyon; but mind, you must keep the secret."

"Oh! inviolably," said Mr. Berners, with a laugh.

"Oh! I mean only that you must not speak of it outside the family,
because, you see, it is such a perfectly original character that if it
was known it would be taken by half a dozen people at least."

"I will never breathe its name," laughed Lyon.

"Then the character I shall take is--"

"What?"

"Fire!"

"Fire?"

"Fire."

"Ha! ha! ha! it will suit you admirably, my little Berners of the
Burning Heart. But how on earth will you contrive to costume and
impersonate the consuming element?"

"It wo