The soup was not cold nor the curry overdone, and the dinner was pleasant enough, in the long dining-room, with the June sun streaming in through its bay-windows from out the brilliant-colored garden, and the walls echoing with the laughter of Sydie and his cousin, the young lady keeping true to her avowal of "not caring for Plato's presence." "Plato," however, listened quietly, peeling his peaches with tranquil amusement; for if the girl talked nonsense, it was clever nonsense, as rare, by the way, and quite as refreshing as true wit. "My gloves are safe; you're too afraid of him, Fay," whispered Sydie, bending forwards to give her some hautboys. "Am I?" cried Miss Fay, with a _moue_ of supreme contempt. Neither the whisper nor the _moue_ escaped Keane, as he talked with the governor on model drainage. "Where's my hookah, Fay?" asked the General, after dessert. "Get it, will you, my pet?" "Voilà!" cried Miss Fay, lifting the narghilé from the sideboard. Then taking some cigars off the mantelpiece, she put one in her own mouth, struck a fusee, and, handing the case to Keane, said, with a saucy smile in her soft bright eyes, though, to tell the truth, she was a little bit afraid of taking liberties with him: "If you are not above such a sublunary indulgence, will you have a cigar with me?" "With the greatest pleasure," said Keane, with a grave bow; "and if you would like to further rival George Sand, I shall be very happy to give you the address of my tailor." "Thank you exceedingly; but as long as crinoline is the type of the sex that are a little lower than the angels, and ribbon-ties the seal of those but a trifle better than Mephistopheles, I don't think I will change it," responded Little Fay, contemptuously, as she threw herself down on a couch with an indignant defiant glance, and puffed at her Manilla. "I _hate_ him, Sydie," said the little lady, vehemently, that night. "Do you, dear?" answered the Cantab; "you see, you've never had anybody to be afraid of, or had any man neglect you before." "He may neglect me if he please, I am sure I do not care," rejoined Fay, disdainfully; "only I do wish, Sydie, that you had never brought him here to make us all uncomfortable." "He don't make me uncomfortable, quite otherwise; nor yet the governor; you're the only victim, Fay."