ut of joint-O

was born to

unced flirtation. Felicia began to realise how hard it is to make the people about one be what one wants them to be, and how full of disappointment is the task of managing mankind, even though the fraction operated upon be no larger than a wayward school-girl's heart. Maud, whose rapidly-increasing devotion to Sutton had for days past been a theme of secret congratulation in Felicia's thoughts, had been behaving all the evening just in the way which Sutton would, she knew, most dislike, and showing the most transparent liking for the person of whom,

one away to bed, leaving the two together for the first time during t

I am very cross and that Mr. D

re in having her out would be sure to give us? Never let us do a good-natured act again! I tell y

ia in a despairing tone. 'Do you know, G

ance to-night?' her husband asked incredulously

d be nice, and so many people are not nice at all. It is too clos

traitor in it,' said her

pauses of his devotions to Mrs. Vereker and turns his eyes upo

it must be confessed that Beau's advances to Felicia, with whom he was always anxious to stand well, w

are more than I can stand. But, George, what can

is to be thought a mauvais sujet, and to dress

, indeed, it has not hurt her already. Oh

gh upon Felicia's spirits. Sutton too slow, and Desv?ux too prompt, and Maud's fickle fancies inclining now this

he high spirits which being at one's ease engenders. She was certain of pleasing him, but careless whether she did so or not. His extravagant protestations amused her and were flattering in a pleasant sort of way, and his high spirits made him an excellent companion; but nothing about him touched her with the keen deep inter

vidently on the best terms with Maud and politely ignoring all Felicia's attempts to put him down. He was, as it seemed to her, in his very most objectionable mood, and she felt glad that, at any rate, her husband was at home and that she was n

; it is so nice of you, because we are both of us far to

ernon, 'that Desv?ux may b

ones, 'am too tired even to be amused. I feel that Mr. Desv?ux'

it in the least worth while to be a steward and to do all the horrid things one has to do-polish the floor and audit the accounts and dance official

the moon,' said Felicia: 'Allo

poor fellow, and for the first time i

like the rest of the world, for words to tell Mrs. Vernon how much we all admire her. It

poor me. Who is to take care of me, if

annot abdicate just yet, I fear. As

youth is eternal. How nice it is to see him adoring Mrs. Vereker, a

n; 'it is a curious trick. His first object, whe

in a balcony; looks gravely into her eyes and says, "How hot it has been this afternoon!" or s

' Felicia said, in her loftiest style; 'just

! I have hatched another scandal." Now,' he added, 'Miss Vernon, if ever you and I had a flirtation we should not wish all the world to "assist," as the French people say, should we? People might suspect our devotion, and guess and gossip; but there would not be this revolting matter-of-fact publicity; and we should be for ever putting people off t

cia made up her mind more than ever that their visitor was a very impertinent fellow, and more than ever resolved to guard Maud's heart from every form of attack which he could bring to bear against it. No pr