"I didn't, Miss St Leger. It is in pieces. It was taken away in something that a footman brought in; it doesn't exist any longer. I have smashed it." "What happened?" "I don't know what happened; nothing, I think. There was a kind of icy breath all over the room, and I thought my heart would stop. But Lady Anne's voice was as cool as--oh! cool as snow, if snow could speak. Afterwards I got burning hot; the ice went and the fire came, and--and I have done it!" Lilian looked perplexed. She turned round and gazed at me; then she burst into a peal of merriest laughter. "Oh, you funny girl!" she said. "Just to think of you--the horror, as mother called you--calmly breaking dear Lady Anne's sacred Salviati, and Oh, you don't _half_ know the heinousness of your crime!" "You are rubbing it in pretty hard," I said. She laughed again immoderately; she could not stop laughing. "Oh! I could kiss you," she said; "I could hug you. I hate that room and those tables and curios; it is wicked--it is wrong for any one to make her room exactly like a curiosity shop, and that is what Lady Anne does. But then it's her hobby. Well, you have knocked over one of her idols, and she'll never forgive you." "If she never expects me to come to see her again I shall certainly survive," I said. "But please don't laugh at me any more." "Oh, I admire you so much," said Lilian; "you have such courage!" "But you don't think I did it on purpose, do you?" "Of course not You just did it because you are accustomed to space, and there is no space allowed in Lady Anne's drawing-room. Oh! I shall tell Dick to-night, and Guy." "Who are they, please?" "My brothers. Won't they roar? Well, my dear, she'll never say a word to you or your step-mother; she'll never say a word to anybody; but I shouldn't be a bit surprised if the doctor was summoned to-night. She has had a sort of shock; but she won't show it, for it's considered underbred for any one to show anything." "Oh, what an appalling life to lead!" "I lead it--at least I generally do; it is only now and then that I can give myself away. You dear, refreshing young soul, how you have cheered me up! I was so loathing the thought of this afternoon of visits. But now, do tell me something more! Are you _always_ doing _outre_ things? If I could only convey you to our house and send you sprawling round, it would be such fun!" "I know you are laughing at me," I said. "Well, yes, I am and I am not. But there! tell me about yourself." "I have nothing to tell; I am just a plain girl." "However plain, you are delicious--delicious! How old are you?" "I shall be sixteen in May." "Well, I was seventeen a month ago, so I have put up my hair. How do you like it?" "It is lovely," I said. "My maid thinks it is. I don't much bother about it. I have one great desire in life. I long for the unattainable." "I should think anything could be attained by you."