"It's very good of you, I'm sure," replied Mackenzie. And then Felicia, pulling off her gloves, came round behind the table and took possession of the place with an amiability and a rearrangement of the cups that defied opposition. "I am afraid this tea will be cold," Waddy meanwhile had suggested to Dorothy. "Yes, do take it down to mamma, Mr. Brunetti. And take this shawl too, won't you?" "Aren't you coming?" said Waddy, in a discomfited voice, as, shawl in one hand and teacup in the other, he stood waiting. "In five minutes; I have taken a fancy for spending just five minutes in that big yellow chair." "That is wise; I'm very pleased to hear you say it," remarked Nora, who, though dispossessed, still lingered near. "We come up here, stay awhile, and then go away; but you are kept on your feet for three or four hours at a time." "_You_ don't go away, do you, Nora?" said Felicia. "You are so kind. I dare say you have been here since noon?" "The samovar--" began Nora. "Dear samovar!" commented Felicia, smiling. And then Nora, at last understanding the sarcasm of the tone, left the table and crossed the room, her cheeks no longer colorless. Alan Mackenzie, who had heard this little dialogue, thought that the two ladies had been very kind to each other. Mrs. Tracy, on her way back from the anteroom, whither she had gone to escort Julian Grimston's mother, who was taking leave, now stopped at the tea-table. She drew Felicia aside. "Stay and dine with us, won't you? We are always tired on Saturday evenings, and it will be delightful to hear you sing. The carriage shall take you home." "You're awfully good," Felicia answered. "But don't trouble to send out the carriage. Ask Mr. Mackenzie too. He will be enchanted to stay, and then we can go down together on foot, and nobody need be bothered." "You don't mind?" "At _my_ age!" answered Felicia, smiling. Felicia's smile always had a slightly hungry look. "_We_ shouldn't think of it. But then we're Americans," responded Mrs. Tracy. "Over here no woman seems to be safely old." "Is that why so many of you come over?" demanded Felicia, who at heart detested all American women, especially those who, like the tenants of Villa Dorio, had plenty of money at their disposal. Then curbing her tongue, she added, "What you say is true of wives and widows. But I assure you that old maids are shelved over here as soon and as completely as they are with you in Oregon." "In Oregon!" repeated Mrs. Tracy. "You English are too extraordinary." And she went away, laughing. During this conversation Dorothy was leaning back in the gold-colored easy-chair; Charrington and Stephen Lefevre were standing beside her, and presently Julian Grimston joined the group, rubbing his dry little hands together gleefully, and murmuring to himself something that sounded like "Aha! aha!"