y don't mind. Now, shall I have my forty winks before tea,
or shall I poke round by myself until I find this blessed aggrieved
Nora? That horrid little piece of impertinence has quite woke me up, so
it's scarcely worth while to get soothed down again; I think I'll find
Nora and ask for some information which I am anxious to write to father
about, then after tea I can have a snooze until it is time to dress for
dinner. Dear, dear, they might have the politeness to have tea ready on
one's arrival. I expect my stay here will be precious slow, with their
old-fashioned, prim ideas; if it weren't for Tony I'd die, but she'd
really make a cat laugh; it will be better than a play to watch her at
dinner to-night with Sir John. Now, then, for a search for the tearful
Nora."

Susy, accordingly, in her usual ponderous, somewhat heavy mode of
progress, wandered from one room to another until at last the sound of
voices guided her to the pretty little boudoir, where Annie Forest and
Nora had taken shelter, and where Nan was now standing, pouring out her
tale of woe. A slight creak which the door made caused the girls to turn
their heads, and there stood Susy, shedding articles of her wardrobe, as
usual, as she walked. Her flaxen hair was partly unpinned and lay in a
rough coil on her fat neck. She came with elephantine weight into the
room, and ignoring Annie Forest altogether, held out a hand to Nora.

"Here I am," she said. "I'm Susy Drummond. 'Miss Susan Drummond, the
Towers,' will soon be on my visiting cards. Isn't the place very
ramshackle? Doesn't it want to be put into repair a good bit? I'm just
dying to hear all about it. Oh, and here's an American swinging-chair--I
just adore them. You don't mind if I see-saw gently while you talk to
me. Nan, I bear no malice; fetch me a footstool, love, and let me know
when tea is brought into the drawing-room. Annie, how do? I hope the
female dragon is very well." Annie flushed crimson. Only a startled look
on Nora's pretty face enabled her to control herself. She walked to the
window and looked out.

Susy blinked her sleepy eyes after her.

"Never mind," she said, winking at Nora, "it's an old feud which I
buried--I'm the most forgiving creature in Christendom--but if she
chooses to dig up the hatchet, I can't help her. I always called that
detestable Mrs. Willis the she-dragon. You don't know her, I suppose?
You're in luck, I can tell you. Thank you, Nan, for the footstool. Now,
th