em with that complacence in the exclusiveness of their little coterie,
which every "set" more or less feels) came downstairs in a body, and
wandered about among the laurel-bushes in the spring moonlight. There
was Ursula and Mr. Northcote, Phoebe and Reginald, and Clarence
Copperhead, with Janey behind, who followed where they went, but did not
enjoy the ceremony. It was bad enough in the drawing-room; but
moonlight, who cared about moonlight? Janey said to herself indignantly.
She was the only one who looked up to Mrs. Hurst's window, where there
was a faint light, and when the voices became audible Janey perceived
some one come behind the curtain and look out. The girl was divided
between her faithful family feud against Mrs. Hurst, and a vague sense
of satisfaction in her presence as a Marplot, who one way or other would
infallibly interfere.

"She will say something to papa," said Janey, her heart involuntary
rising at the thought, though at the same time she shivered to think of
the treachery involved to all the tenets of the family. Janey sat on the
steps and listened to the others talking. No one pointed out the stars
to her, or followed her about as Reginald followed Phoebe. As for Mr.
Copperhead, Janey thought he was almost as lonely as she was. He had
lighted his cigar, and was strolling up and down, interrupting both of
the other pairs occasionally, breaking into the midst of Northcote's
astronomical lecture abruptly, and stopping Phoebe herself in the middle
of a sentence. Janey, watching sharply from the steps, noticed, as a
spectator has it in her power to do, that whereas Northcote was
extremely impatient of the interruption, and discovered immediately that
the stars could be seen better from another spot, Phoebe took it quite
sweetly, and addressed herself to him as she went on, which Reginald did
not like, Janey was sure. Were they in love with each other? the girl
asked herself--was this how it was managed? When the moon went under a
cloud for a moment Clarence Copperhead's vast shirt-front made a kind of
substitute down below. Janey lost the other two among the bushes, but
she always beheld that orb of white moving backward and forward with two
dark figures near. She felt sure Reginald did not want to have him in
such close neighbourhood; but Phoebe's voice went on talking to both
alike. Janey was half-pleased, and half-indignant. She had a jealous
dislike, such as most girls have, to see her brother e