"Ah!--and I'd rather be a rude tom-boy than a great girl, bai Jove, Mr Max!" cried Nelly; whereupon Mr Bray laughed, Mrs Bray scolded, and Nelly pretended to cry, directing a comical look the while at her father, who, whatever his weakness, was passionately fond of his girls. The crunching of the gravel by the wheels of the wagonette put a stop to the rather unpleasant scene, when, to Laura's surprise, Max jumped up and handed Ella down to the carriage, returning afterwards for his sister, who favoured him with a peculiarly meaning look; one which he replied to in as supercilious a manner as he could assume. "What does it mean, Max?" she whispered, as they descended the stairs. "More affection for your little sisters?" "My dear Laura," drawled Max, "will you take my advice and adopt a motto?" "Motto?" said Laura inquiringly. "Ya-as, bai Jove! the very one for you--just suited to the occasion: _Laissez-aller_. Do you understand?" Laura looked at him meaningly, but made no reply, for they had reached the carriage. Volume 1, Chapter XV. CHARLEY'S FETE. In spite of her annoyance, Laura's eyes sparkled when they reached the Court; for Sir Philip hurried to the carriage, welcoming the party most warmly, and, handing her out, he led her himself to the beautiful little kiosk, and then took her from place to place, according to her attentions that made more than one match-making mamma with marriageable daughters look meaningly at the same daughters, and then think of Charley Vining with a sigh. But if Laura was in high glee, so was not Max, who had to stand by while Charley carried off Ella Bedford, Nelly laughingly fastening upon his other arm. "A rude coarse beast, bai Jove!" muttered Max elegantly, as he tried vainly to get the little button of his glove secured. "Let him have a fall again, and see if I'll go to his help!" "I shall come with you if I may," said Nelly demurely. "To be sure!" laughed Charley, whose heart throbbed with pleasure as he felt--nay, hardly felt--the light pressure of the grey glove upon his arm. "Miss Bedford won't mind, I hope. Do you know, Miss Bedford, I'm rather glad you are with us? I'm almost afraid Nelly means some inroad upon my purse." "No, I don't," said Nelly, "so don't be afraid;" and then she walked very demurely by their side, Charley encouraging her to stay upon observing Ella's constraint and troubled looks. "She'd be off like a frightened pigeon--dove, I mean!" muttered Charley, as he looked down at the almost painful face beside him. But a little quiet conversation upon current topics seemed to set her more at ease, and, after a while, Hugh Lingon approaching, Charley Vining whispered, loudly enough, though, for Nelly to hear: "Now I'm going, Miss Bedford, for here comes Nelly's intended. I hope you will play the _chaperone_ most stringently."