"Hullo!" cried a gay voice; "hullo! and what's the matter with little Miss Beauty?" And Sibyl raised her eyes, with a start, to encounter the keen, frank, admiring gaze of Gus. "Oh, I say!" he exclaimed, "aren't we fine! I say! you'll knock Freda and Mabel into next week, if you go on at this rate. But, come to the schoolroom; we want a game, and you can join." "I can't, Gus," replied Sibyl. "Why, what's the matter?" "I don't feel like playing games." "You are quite white about the gills. I say! has anybody hurt you?" "No, not exactly, Gus; but I want to be alone. I'll come by-and-by." "Somebody wasn't square with her," thought Gus, as Sibyl turned away. "Queer little girl! But I like her all the same." CHAPTER V. Sibyl's conduct was exemplary at dessert. She was quiet, she was modest, she was extremely polite. When spoken to she answered in the most correct manner. When guests smiled at her, she gave them a set smile in return. She accepted just that portion of the dessert which her mother most wished her to eat, eschewing unwholesome sweets, and partaking mostly of grapes. Especially was she polite to Lord Grayleigh, who called her to his side, and even put his arm round her waist. He wondered afterwards why she shivered when he did this. But she stood upright as a dart, and looked him full in the face with those extraordinary eyes of hers. At last the children's hour, as it was called, came to an end, and the four went round kissing and shaking hands with the different guests. Mrs. Ogilvie put her hand for an instant on Sibyl's shoulder. "I am pleased with you," she said; "you behaved very nicely. Go to bed now." "Will you come and see me, Mumsy--mother, I mean--before you go to bed?" "Oh no, child, nonsense! you must be asleep hours before then. No, this is good-night. Now go quietly." Sibyl did go quietly. Mrs. Ogilvie turned to her neighbor. "That is such an absurd custom," she said; "I must break her of it." "Break your little girl of what?" he asked. "She is a beautiful child," he added. "I congratulate you on having such a charming daughter." "I have no doubt she will make a very pretty woman," replied Mrs. Ogilvie, "and I trust she will have a successful career; but what I was alluding to now was her insane wish that I should go and say good-night to her. Her father spoils that child dreadfully. He insists on her staying up to our late dinner, which in itself is quite against all my principles, and then will go up to her room every evening when he happens to be at home. She lies awake for him at night, and they talk sentiment to each other. Very bad, is it not; quite out of date."