, I wonder, because I danced with Garry the other night? It
WAS his dance, but I didn't think he would care. He has always done
everything to please me--until now." Perhaps the boy was about to slip
the slight collar he had worn in her service--one buckled on by him
willingly because--though she had not known it--he was a guest in the
house. Heretofore she said to herself Jack had been her willing slave,
a feather in her cap--going everywhere with her; half the girls were
convinced he was in love with her--a theory which she had encouraged.
What would they say now? This prospect so disturbed the young woman that
she again touched the button, and again Hortense glided in.

"Hortense, tell Parkins to let me know the moment Mr. John comes in--and
get me my blue tea-gown; I sha'n't go out to-day." This done she sank
back on her pillows.

She was a slight little body, this Corinne--blue-eyed, fair-haired, with
a saucy face and upturned nose. Jack thought when he first saw her that
she looked like a wren with its tiny bill in the air--and Jack was not
far out of the way. And yet she was a very methodical, level-headed
little wren, with several positive convictions which dominated her
life--one of them being that everybody about her ought to do, not as
they, but as she, pleased. She had begun, and with pronounced success,
on her mother as far back as she could remember, and had then tried
her hand on her stepfather until it became evident that as her mother
controlled that gentleman it was a waste of time to experiment further.
All of which was a saving of stones without the loss of any birds.

Where she failed--and she certainly had failed, was with Jack, who
though punctiliously polite was elusive and--never quite subdued. Yet
the discovery made, she neither pouted nor lost her temper, but merely
bided her time. Sooner or later, she knew, of course, this boy, who
had seen nothing of city life and who was evidently dazed with all the
magnificence of the stately home overlooking the Park, would find his
happiest resting-place beneath the soft plumage of her little wing. And
if by any chance he should fall in love with her--and what more natural;
did not everybody fall in love with her?--would it not be wiser to let
him think she returned it, especially if she saw any disposition on the
young man's part to thwart her undisputed sway of the household?

For months she had played her little game, yet to her amazement none of
th