eally mean it?'

'I am afraid he does,' said Amy.

Eveleen let herself fall on the sofa as if fainting. 'Oh,' she said,
'take him away! Let me never see the face of him again! I'm perfectly
overcome! All my teaching thrown away!'

'I am sorry for you,' said Guy, laughing.

'And how do you mean to face Maurice?'

'Tell him his first bugle has so distracted me that I can't answer for
the consequences if I come to-night.

'Mrs. Edmonstone came in, saying,--

'Come, I have kept you waiting shamefully, but I have been consoling
myself by thinking you must be well entertained, as I heard no
Harmonious Blacksmith. Papa will be wondering where we are.'

'Oh, mamma! Guy won't go.'

'Guy! is anything the matter?'

'Nothing, thank you, only idleness.'

'This will never do. You really must go, Guy.'

'Indeed! I think not. Pray don't order me, Mrs. Edmonstone.'

'What o'clock is it, Amy? Past ten! Papa will be in despair! What is to
be done? How long do you take to dress, Guy?'

'Not under an hour,' said Guy, smiling.

'Nonsense! But if there was time I should certainly send you.
Self-discipline may be carried too far, Guy. But now it can't be
helped--I don't know how to keep papa waiting any longer. Laura, what
shall I do?'

'Let me go to Charles,' answered Guy. 'Perhaps I can read him to sleep.'

'Thank you; but don't talk, or he will be too excited. Reading would be
the very thing! It will be a pretty story to tell every one who asks for
you that I have left you to nurse my son!'

'No, for no such good reason,' said Guy; 'only because I am a great
fool.'

'Well, Sir Guy, I am glad you can say one sensible word,' said Lady
Eveleen.

'Too true, I assure you,' he answered, as he handed her in. 'Good night!
You will keep the quadrille for me till I am rational.'

He handed the others in, and shut the door. Mrs. Edmonstone, ruffled out
of her composure, exclaimed,--

'Well, this is provoking!'

'Every one will be vexed,' said Laura.

'It will be so stupid,' said Amy.

'I give him up,' said Eveleen. 'I once had hopes of him.'

'If it was not for papa, I really would turn back this moment and fetch
him,' cried Mrs. Edmonstone, starting forward. 'I'm sure it will give
offence. I wish I had not consented.'

'He can't be made to see that his presence is of importance to any
living creature,' said Laura.

'What is the reason of this whim?' said Eveleen.

'No, Eveleen, it is not whim,' said Laura; 'it i