e lot," ' said Wych
Hazel. 'There was the usual mingling, I think, of attractive
and unattractive.'

Mr. Falkirk was silent till dinner was served, and then
attended to that.

'Mr. Falkirk,' Hazel began suddenly, when Gotham had retired,
'_I_ believe you could move now. Come!--go with me to Oak Hill
to-night,--will you, sir?'

'Oak Hill,' said her guardian. 'Mrs. Seaton's. What is to be
done there?'

'A promenade concert--nominally.'

'That sounds something to me like a dancing dinner. What does
it mean, my dear?'

'Just what I said, in the first place, sir. If Kitty Fisher
and the Powders are there, it may turn into something else.'

'And what does a promenade concert turn into, when it is
enchanted?' said Mr. Falkirk.

'A succession of dances--it might.'

'Well, my dear--what should I do in a succession of dances?'

She laughed,--just a little. Laughs were not ready to-night.
'Sit still, sir, and watch me.'

'It strikes me I do enough of that as it is, without going to
Oak Hill. Do you want more than you will have to watch you?'

The word jarred. She was silent a minute. Then earnestly--

'I wish you would, Mr. Falkirk.'

A new expression on Mr. Falkirk's face shewed that a new idea
had occurred to him.

'What does this mean?' he asked gently, bending on his ward
one of his keen looks from under the thick eyebrows.

She answered without looking at him,

'It means what is says, sir.'

'What is the matter, my dear?' came more sympathizingly than
Mr. Falkirk's wont. It was even a little low and tender.

'Why, Mr. Falkirk--it is such an unreasonable request, that you
should be so keen after reasons?'

'I do not know that it is unreasonable, but you know that it
is unwonted. You have not been apt to wish for more guarding
than you have had, Miss Hazel. Cannot you tell me what makes
you desire it now?'

Mr. Falkirk did not growl now, nor draw his brows together; he
was in patient earnest, seeing cause.

'I did not say to guard me, sir. Sometimes,' said Hazel,
choosing her words, 'sometimes it might be pleasant to have
somebody in the room to whom I was supposed to belong--just a
little bit. How do you like Major Seaton's grapes, Mr.
Falkirk?'

Mr. Falkirk drew his brows together now, and spite of his weak
ankle got up and paced across the floor thoughtfully. Then
came to a sudden stop in front of Wych Hazel.

'Has anybody annoyed you?' he asked.

'By "annoyed" you mean?--'

'Made you