aid Hildegarde. "She was speaking rather loud, perhaps; but her
voice is so musical, I don't think one minds it in her, somehow. She is
a glorious creature!"

Mrs. Delansing seemed absent and disturbed. "She--it is not always
possible to avoid overhearing portions of conversations, when carried on
in a high key--I gathered that some invitation had been extended to you,
Hildegarde--for this evening."

"Yes!" said Hildegarde, rather reluctantly. "She wanted me to go to the
opera with her, but I didn't think I would better."

"Why not?" demanded her aunt, severely. "Miss Desmond is not accustomed
to have her invitations refused,--and you are bound to take advantage of
such opportunities as may present themselves to you, living in the
extraordinary way that your mother thinks suitable for you."

"Oh, well!" said Hildegarde, "Helena understood perfectly, and I thought
it best not to go."

She was arranging the flowers as she spoke, and did not see the curious
change that seemed to come over Mrs. Delansing's face. It was as if the
stony repose of her features were broken,--some shifting light seemed
to pass over her, changing into shadow, but a shadow softened into
something approaching tenderness.

"Hildegarde, it is not on my account that you are making this sacrifice?
I cannot permit--"

Hildegarde looked up; then laid down her roses, and crossed the room to
lay her hand on her aunt's shoulder.

"Of course it is, Aunt Emily!" she said, impulsively. "I came here to
see you, not to go to the opera. I have been out already more than I
should to-day, but--but things happened, somehow. And this is the last
evening we shall have together, and you know we are to play the grand
final rubber; and--and I _wanted_ to stay."

The old lady began to tremble in her chair; a mist came over her keen
black eyes.

"My grandchildren would have gone!" she cried. "Blanche and Violette
would have gone, and not have thought it necessary even to tell me. I
have done everything for them, and nothing-- Blanche has been here this
afternoon!" she added, in a different voice, struggling for her usual
composure. "She said--but it is of no consequence what she said."

"No, it really isn't, Aunt Emily!" said Hildegarde, venturing to stroke
the silken shoulder affectionately. "Suppose we don't mind about Blanche
now; she is very young for her age, don't you think? I can finish that
story before I go to dress for dinner."

But Mrs. Delansing