He still stood in the embrasure of the window, pulling his dark mustache rather sulkily with his slender brown fingers. "Was there ever such a _contretemps_!" she exclaimed, going up to him. "What shall we do, St. Leon?" "Nothing," he answered, rather shortly. "Nothing?" she echoed, helplessly, yet with an accent of relief in her voice. "Why, what is there to do?" he inquired, impatiently. "She is here, whether we want her or not. We are not barbarians; we cannot send our guest away. Besides, I have changed my mind; Mrs. Gordon was right." "Right!" she echoed, gazing up into his face inquiringly. "My lady-mamma, has our guest quite upset your equanimity?" he inquired, smiling down at her perturbed face. "You echo my words with parrot-like pertinacity!" "If I am disturbed, St. Leon, it is on your account," she replied, with dignity. "I could endure the girl's visit very well myself." "So can I, I think," he returned, musingly. "She is not at all what my fancy painted her--a self-possessed fashionable beauty, who would rather compel me to dance attendance upon her. I could see that the little thing was rather afraid of me; I dare say she will keep out of my way." "I have no doubt of it. She was positively shy and awkward. Not at all like her mother, whom I remember as a brilliant belle who held her own with queenly dignity," said Mrs. Le Roy. "I cannot blame Isabel for her caution; Beatrix looks too young to have a lover." "'She's o'er young to marry yet,' certainly," assented her son. "We will keep the ewe-lamb safe, mamma, and woe be to the wolf that comes prowling around the precious fold." He spoke so dryly that she could not tell whether he was in jest or earnest, and his expression was just as inscrutable as his tone. While she was puzzling over both, Beatrix returned. Her plain gray traveling-dress had been exchanged for a pretty, soft, white robe with delicate laces about it, and she carried a wide sun hat in her small, dimpled hands. The big dark eyes did not look quite so frightened now. They looked yearningly out at the beautiful grounds. "May I go out there?" she asked. "I have never seen such a beautiful spot in my life before!" CHAPTER V. St. Leon looked at the girl as she made her timid request. Her eyes drooped from his quickly, and the frightened look came into them again. He was unaccountably vexed, although a moment before he had been pleased, because she was afraid of him. "Why should the little goose fear me? I am not an ogre," he said to himself, shortly, turning back to the window, while Mrs. Le Roy answered politely: "Certainly, child, and I will go with you to show you the way."