I had seen Mr. Charteris laugh at or repulse her, just as the humour took him; but, apparently impervious to either ridicule or rudeness, she still pursued him, indoors or out of doors, although he often put on his hat as soon as she appeared, and left the house by the back way. To Tessie, and Ange, and myself, Miss Markham had become a perfect nuisance, for, wherever she might be, she monopolised the conversation, which always ran in the most egotistical manner on herself, her admirers, and her triumphs. Mr. Lovett was the only creature who welcomed her; and whether it was that they were equally vain, self-seeking, and fond of flattery I know not, but they always seemed to get on together. The old man continued to affirm that Miss Markham was one of the most intelligent and agreeable ladies he knew, and she never lost an opportunity of lauding his personal merits and his talents, or of rebuking the girls for not paying him sufficient attention. Until at last I began to fear whether she might not turn the foolish old man’s brain to that extent that he would really imagine his daughters were not as devoted and loving and obedient as they possibly could be. It had become a joke with Tessie and Ange and me to give Mr. Charteris warning of Sophy Markham’s approach, but I was angry with him and angry with myself that evening, and I watched the bobbing cherries draw nearer and nearer without saying a word. So she was flung into the midst of us like a grenade. ‘How d’ye do! how d’ye do! to everybody,’ she exclaimed, nodding to the company in general, and then she pounced upon the unhappy Cave in particular. ‘Ah! you naughty fellow, come and make confession of your sins at once! What did you mean by cutting me this morning after that fashion? I’ve a great mind to give you a dreadful penance, one that you will not forget in a hurry; only you mustn’t make those saucy eyes at me, or I shall forget all about it.’ ‘Cutting _you_, Miss Markham,’ he replied with serio-comic gravity. ‘How _can_ you think so? Where was it, and when?’ ‘Where indeed?—why, close by the _Grotte de S. Jean_, of course. Now don’t pretend you didn’t see me, because I know you did. You began to run directly I turned the corner.’ ‘That must be a mistake! I never run.’ ‘Well, you walked very fast then, so fast that I couldn’t overtake you. And you dropped a rose-bud from your button-hole in your flight, and I picked it up, and here it is,’—displaying it in the bosom of her dress—‘and you shan’t have it back again,’ with infantine fervour, ‘no! not if you begged on your bended knees for it, you naughty boy! So there—there!’ ended Miss Markham playfully, as she struck his face two or three times with the flower which she had taken in her hand. ‘I believe you’ve put my eye out,’ he said quite crossly, as he covered the injured member with his hand. ‘Oh, poor little eye! let me see,’ cried Miss Markham, as she bent over his chair. ‘Shall I try and make it well again?’