for me. One night after they had sung
some very nice songs they asked me to play, and I began with 'My Little
Brown Rose'--you know they all adore the negro--and little by little I
dropped into the funniest coon songs I knew, and oh how they laughed!
Even the old lord stroked his knees and laughed out loud, while the
young ladies laughed into their handkerchiefs. Lady Stanhope was the
only one who comprehended I was guying them; and she looked at me with
half-shut eyes in a way that would have spoiled some girls' fun. It only
made me the merrier. So I tried to show them a cake walk, but the old
lord rose then and said 'I must be tired, and they would excuse me.'
Somehow I could not manage him. Basil was at a workman's concert, and
when he came home I think there were some advices and remonstrances, but
Basil never told me. I felt as if they were all glad when I went away,
and I don't wish to go to the Castle--and I won't go either."

"But if Basil wishes to go----"

"He can go alone. I rather think Fred Mostyn will be here in a few
days, and he will take me to places that Basil will not--innocent places
enough, Ethel, so you need not look so shocked. Why do you not ask me to
Rawdon Court?"

"Because I am only a guest there. I have no right to ask you."

"I am sure if you told Squire Rawdon how fond you are of me, and how
lonely I am, he would tell you to send for me."

"I do not believe he would. He has old-fashioned ideas about newly
married people. He would hardly think it possible that you would be
willing to go anywhere without Basil--yet."

"He could ask Basil too."

"If Mr. Mostyn is coming home, he can ask you to Mostyn Hall. It is very
near Rawdon Court."

"Yes. Fred said as soon as he had possession of the Court he could put
both places into a ring fence. Then he would live at the Court. If he
asks us there next summer I shall be sure to beg an invitation for you
also; so I think you might deserve it by getting me one now. I don't
want to go to Mostyn yet. Fred says it needs entire refurnishing, and if
we come to the Court next summer, I have promised to give him my advice
and help in making the place pretty and up to date. Have you seen Mostyn
Hall?"

"I have passed it several times. It is a large, gloomy-looking place I
was going to say haunted-looking. It stands in a grove of yew trees."

"So you are not going to ask me to Rawdon Court?"

"I really cannot, Dora. It is not my house. I am only a