m, a live
Marchioness was of a different mind.

The band now struck up, and Mrs. Greenwood beat time with her large
foot, and nodded her head till the plume of feathers in her hat waved
like the plumes of a palm-tree in the tropics.

Her daughters did not allow the band to hinder their remarks on the
company, as some promenaded up and down, and others reclined, like Lady
Betty, on the crimson-covered lounges.

Presently Griselda received a nudge from one of the young ladies' rather
sharp elbows:

"Pray, miss, who's that fine gentleman walking with? He is looking this
way. Bab, don't giggle, I think he was speaking of us."

"Who is the lady?"

"The Marchioness of Lothian," Griselda said.

"Lor', ma; do you hear?" Miss Barbara exclaimed, leaning across
Griselda, "that's a Marchioness!"

It really gave these good people intense pleasure to be in the same room
with those who rejoiced in titles. It gave Mrs. Greenwood a sense of
added importance, and made her even dream of the possibility of some
lord falling in love with Bab. Thus a return to the remote country town
of Widdicombe Episopi, where Mr. Greenwood farmed his own acres, and
lived in a house which had come down to the Greenwoods from the time of
Charles II., would be a triumphal return indeed.

"I shouldn't wonder, miss, if you was a titled lady," Mrs. Greenwood
said, as the music stopped, and conversation in more subdued tones was
possible.

Griselda smiled.

"No, I have no title of honour," she said.

"Ah, well! you _look_ as if you might have, and that's something. I do
like to see a genteel air; as I say to Bab and Bell, it's half the
battle--it's more than a pretty face. We are come to Bath for Bell's
health. She has been so peaky and puling of late. Do you take the
waters, miss?"

"No," Griselda said. "I am quite well."

"Then you came for pleasure?"

"Yes," Griselda replied.

"Well, I am very proud to have made your acquaintance. We have
apartments in the Circus. There's no stint as to money. Mr. Greenwood
said--that's the squire, you know--'Go and enjoy yourselves. But I thank
my stars I've not to go along with you, that's all.'"

At this moment Leslie Travers entered the room, and looking round with
the quick glance of love saw Griselda, and Griselda alone.

But who were the people she was seated with? Lady Betty called him by
name, and stopped giggling behind her fan to do so.

"Here, Mr. Travers; go, I beseech you, and rescue Gr