mine when I showed
you tricks and danced figure dances as we do at school. I'm _sure_
you'd like to see me dance the Highland fling! Now--now--promise! I
_know_ you'll promise. I can see the softening in your eye!"

"Ridiculous child!" protested Lady Hayes once more, but Darsie was
right; there was certainly a softening in her eye which bespoke a
disposition to yield. In truth it was not so much of Darsie as of
herself that Lady Hayes was thinking at that moment, for as the young
voice spoke the old heart quickened with quite an agreeable sense of
expectation. Years since she had read a "funny book," years since she
had partaken of a picnic meal; years--many, many years since she had
looked on while a young girl danced! Radical changes and innovations in
the routine of life she could not face at this late day, but Darsie's
girlish plan attempted nothing so ambitious. Let the child have her
way! It would be interesting, undoubtedly interesting, to see how she
behaved.

So Darsie gained her point, and for the next week she and her hostess
played in turn the part of Mistress of the Ceremonies, to their mutual
benefit and satisfaction.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

A DANGEROUS ADVENTURE.

One of the privileges gained by the alliance between aunt and niece was
that the former veto against bicycle riding was withdrawn, and that
Darsie was set free each afternoon for an hour's enjoyment of this
favourite exercise.

In deference to Lady Hayes's nervousness and sense of responsibility the
high-road was avoided as much as possible, and detours taken through
quiet lanes, where traffic was reduced to a minimum; and it was along
one of these lanes that Darsie rode joyously some five or six days after
her visit to the Percivals, bearing in her pocket a return invitation to
her new friends. She had been longing to meet them again, had keenly
regretted a domestic upset which had delayed the invitation until now,
but all the same the last days had passed wonderfully quickly and
happily. Afire with resolution to "begin again" and show herself in the
light of a cheerful and cheering companion, she had neglected no
opportunity to make herself agreeable to her hostess, while Aunt Maria
in return had been sweetly considerate, and on occasions quite startling
in her divination of hidden wishes and desires. The eyes behind the
gold-rimmed spectacles would rest upon the girl's face with an intent
scrutiny which seemed to have the po