about as much alike as sage tea and sparkling hock.
Why, see here, Sybil; in order to throw every one off the track of me, I
took a character as unlike mine as it was possible to find, and yet I
have not succeeded in concealing my identity. And this has provoked me
to such an extent that I have left the dance."

"And so I find you sulking here. Well, Trix, I will tell you how they
found you out. You and I are known to be the two smallest women in the
whole neighborhood. After having found me out, through the divination of
a magician, it was easy to see that the other small woman must be you."

"Oh, I see; but it is perfectly exasperating!"

"So it is; but you may get some fun out of it yet, Trix, by turning the
tables upon them all."

"How? Tell me! I'll do anything to get the better of them."

"I cannot tell you now, for here comes my escort with my lemonade, and
this matter must remain a secret between you and me. But listen: in
fifteen minutes from this time slip away and go to my bedroom. You know
the way, and you will find it empty. I will join you there, and tell you
my plan," said Sybil, in a very low tone.

At that moment her escort arrived with the glass of lemonade.

Sybil received it from him with many thanks, and having offered it first
to her companion, who politely declined it, she drank it, sat the empty
glass upon the corner of the mantle-piece and then said:

"I will trouble you now, if you please, to take me back to my former
seat."

Death bowed and offered his arm. Fire arose, nodded to the little
Puritan on the sofa, took the arm of her escort, and walked away.

When she reached her old seat she dismissed her escort, and in a few
minutes, finding herself for the instant unobserved, she quietly slipped
away to her bed-chamber, where she found Beatrix Pendleton already
awaiting her.

First of all Sybil locked the door, to insure herself and her companion
from interruption. Then she went to the glass and took off her crown of
flame and her mask of gold gauze, and drew a long breath of relief as
she turned towards her companion, who started violently, exclaiming:

"Good Heaven, Sybil! how ghastly pale you look! You are ill!"

"Oh, no; only very weary," sighed Sybil, adding then, in explanation,
"You know these affairs are very fatiguing."

"Yes, I know, but not to that extent, when you have a house full of
trained servants to do everything. Why Sybil, you look as if your fiery
dress had