sense,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, laughing.

'And you won't believe me serious? You won't be grateful to me for my
lucky hit' said Eveleen, looking comically injured. 'Oh auntie, that is
very hard, when I shall believe to my dying day that I did it!'

'Why, Eva, if I thought it had been done by design, I should find it
very hard to forgive you for it at all, rather hard even to accept Guy,
so you had better not try to disturb my belief that it was only that
spirit of mischief that makes you now and then a little mad.'

'Oh dear! what a desperate scolding you must have given poor little
Charlotte!' exclaimed Eveleen, quaintly.

Mrs. Edmonstone could not help laughing as she confessed that she had
altogether forgotten Charlotte.

'Then you will. You'll go on forgetting her,' cried Eveleen. 'She only
did what she was told, and did not know the malice of it. There, you're
relenting! There's a good aunt! And now, if you won't be grateful, as
any other mamma in the world would have been, and as I calculated on,
when I pretended to have been a prudent, designing woman, instead of a
wild mischievous monkey at least you'll forgive me enough to invite me
to the wedding. Oh! what a beauty of a wedding it will be! I'd come from
Kilcoran all the way on my bare knees to see it. And you'll let me be
bridesmaid, and have a ball after it?'

'There is no saying what I may do, if you'll only be a good girl, and
hold your tongue. I don't want to prevent your telling anything to
your mamma, of course, but pray don't let it go any further. Don't let
Maurice hear it, I have especial reasons for wishing it should not be
known. You know it is not even an engagement, and nothing must be done
which can make Guy feel in the least bound?'

Eveleen promised, and Mrs. Edmonstone knew that she had sense and proper
feeling enough for her promise to deserve trust.

CHAPTER 14

For falsehood now doth flow,
And subject faith doth ebbe,
Which would not be, if reason ruled,
Or wisdom weav'd the webbe.

The daughter of debate,
That eke discord doth sowe,
Shal reape no gaine where former rule
Hath taught stil peace to growe.
--QUEEN ELIZABETH

'ATHENAEUM TERRACE,
ST MILDRED'S,
August 4th,
'MY DEAR PHILIP,--Thank you for returning the books, which were brought
safely by Sir Guy. I