"Polyhymnia and Melpomene!" muttered Lynn. "I have been a fixture in this room most of the time;" replied Morton. "How selfish! had you no sense of duty? could you not sacrifice your ease to secure the enjoyment of your friends?" "It would argue ridiculous vanity in me, to suppose that my absence has detracted from the pleasures of the assembly; and from the aspirants for the smile of the reigning belles, so unimportant a personage is not missed." "Can he like her?" thought Ida. "There is still an air unlike other men, but he does not act or speak as he did to me. He looks amused but very careless. Oh! why must we have two faces?" "Why did you stop me just now?" queried Lynn, pettishly. "I do not fear her; I am rather anxious she should know the extent of my dislike." "How will that benefit either of you!" inquired Ida. "Don't play the saint! much consideration you owe her! I am a good hater:--I cannot fawn and smile upon one,--woman though she is--beggared in principle and heart. She is capable of anything. Mean and tyrannical--those who deal with her, must be tools or enemies,--I choose the latter alternative. I will not hear any justification. Don't I know--cannot everybody see, that she is the trouble of your life,--that she would murder you, but for the cowardly dread of detection!" "You will counsel me next, to sleep with pistols under my pillow;" said she. "What an array of horrors you are manufacturing?" "It is as true as Gospel. Why disclaim it? Charley told me of the vixen before I saw her; he can be civil--I cannot--and what is more--_will_ not!" "He sees, perhaps, that animosity to my friends may be an engine to inflict suffering upon me;" answered Ida, thinking of Mr. Dermott. Lynn coloured. "He intimated as much. I have not his self-command; he is a better, because a more unselfish friend than I." "I have no fault to find with you;" was the reply. "It is a comfort to feel, that come what may, I have two brothers to depend upon."