"Possibly not, Madame Arthur." Then, with mock emotion: "Might I, dare I, ask you to give to my keeping, that incomparable maiden, that houri of houris, your young and lovely sister-in-law, Miss Ellen Arthur?" The woman looked at him in silence for a time, and then, flinging herself upon a couch, burst into a peal of soft laughter. She understood it all now. "So you are the expected lover!" she ejaculated, laughing afresh; "and she is up-stairs, in bright array, waiting for you." "And I am down here, pleading for permission to address this pearl of price." Cora arose and gathered her crimson wrap about her shoulders. "And how is it to be between us?" she asked coolly. "My sweet Alice, if you were John Arthur's widow instead of John Arthur's wife, it should be as if the past ten years were but a dream." "Indeed--provided, of course, I were John Arthur's heiress as well." "Certainly!" "And how is it that you are once more fortune hunting? Five years ago you inherited wealth sufficient for your every need." The elegant Mr. Percy went through the pantomime of shuffling and dealing cards, then looked at her with a grimace. "All?" she inquired, as if the action had been words. "Every ducat," solemnly. "So what is to be my fate, fair destiny?" Cora mused, then laughed again. "After all, you may prove a friend in need," she said. "I shan't interfere between you and Miss Arthur; be sure of that." Then they fell to settling the preliminaries of a siege upon the heart of Miss Arthur, together with other little trifles that occurred as they talked. They had both thrown off their air of hostility, and were seated opposite each other, conversing quite comfortably, when the door swung open, and Miss Arthur stood before them; Miss Arthur, in the full glory of snowy cashmere, with cherry satin facings; Miss Arthur, with curls waving, and in all her war-paint. The two plotters arose, and saluted her with much empressement. Miss Arthur advanced a step and stood beside the high-backed chair, one hand still resting upon the door. Percy came toward her with outstretched hands. "Ah-h-h!" screeched the spinster, "what was that?" Turning quickly she encountered nothing more formidable than her French maid, who had evidently hurried to the spot, for she breathed rapidly, and said, in an anxious manner: "Pardon, mademoiselle, it is I,--did mademoiselle ring? I thought so." "You stepped on my dress, girl," said Miss Arthur, sharply. "No, I did not ring; perhaps Mrs. Arthur did." "I did ring, Ellen," lied Cora, sweetly, wondering what lucky providence sent the girl to the door just then. "I rang for you, as Mr. Percy here, in whom I have discovered a Long Branch acquaintance, would hardly treat me civilly, so impatient has he been to see Miss Arthur." Miss Arthur looked somewhat appeased. "You may go, Celine," she said, with her most stately air. Thus she sailed forward to meet Mr. Percy.