“I have come to have my turn,” said Johnnie, savagely. I was seated within hearing, and, I confess, felt no very strong inducement to withdraw from my position. Perhaps Johnnie did not see me--Miss Reredos did, and certainly did not care. “I am come to have my turn, and to tell you that I can’t be content to take turns--especially with that empty fellow Nugent, whom you seem, like all the rest, to have taken so great a fancy to.” “Colonel Nugent is not an empty fellow--he is a very agreeable man,” said Miss Reredos, calmly. “Oh! and I am not, I suppose?” cried the reckless and embittered boy. “You certainly are not always agreeable,” answered poor Johnnie’s false love, quite blandly; “and as for being a _man_ at all---- We have really had quite enough of this, thank you, Master Harley. One tires of these scenes--they don’t answer when they are repeated every day.” “No--not when there is better sport going!” cried poor Johnnie. “I see it all now--you have only been making game of me all the time.” “Did you ever suppose anything else?” asked the witch coldly. I think it must have been Johnnie’s transport of passion which made the floor thrill, as I felt under my chair. I heard a furious muttered exclamation--then a long pause. The passion changed, and a great sob came out of Johnnie’s boyish heart. “You don’t mean what you say--Laura, Laura!” groaned the poor lad. I could have---- well, to be sure I am only a vindictive woman, as women are. I don’t know what I could not have done to her, sitting calm and self-satisfied there. “It is quite time this should be over,” said the virtuous Miss Reredos; “I was not making game of you; but I certainly was amusing myself, as I thought you were doing, also. Why, I am three or four years older than you--you silly boy!--don’t you know?” She might have said five or six years, which would have been nearer the truth, but it mattered nothing to Johnnie. “I could be as good a man as _him_ for your sake,” he cried, with a gasp. Miss Reredos only played with the fan which dangled from her wrist. “Say you did not mean it, Laura,” whispered the unfortunate boy again. But Laura shook her head. “No, no--it has gone quite far enough. Oh! I’m not angry--but, dear, dear, don’t you see it’s no use. You are a great deal--at least you are younger than I am--and we have nothing, neither of us--and besides”---- “Besides I am a cripple, and you don’t love me!” cried Johnnie, wildly. “I can’t contradict it,” said Circe with a toss of her head.