The moonlight was streaming across the floor, but it did not reveal the blush which deepened on my cheek as I faintly answered “Yes,” bidding him at the same time not to tell of it, for I began to feel afraid of the boy’s loquacity. That night I dreamed of “Uncle Dick,” whose name was the last which sounded in my ears when I fell asleep, and the first of which I thought when I awoke in the morning. As I was dressing, I heard little Jessie on the piazza, singing in her childish way, “_I_ love _Uncle_ Dick, I do, and _so_ does _Hal_, and _so_ does _Mis_-ses Lee!” “Who told you _that_, Pussy?” asked a voice which I recognized as Mr. Delafield’s, and very nervously I listened for Jessie’s answer, which was, “Oh, I know she does. Hal asked her didn’t she like you, and she said she did.” “Rather early to avow a preference, I think. I shouldn’t wonder if a Miss Rawson performance were to be enacted a second time,” said another voice, which I knew to be that of Mrs. Lansing, who had joined her brother upon the piazza. “Angeline,” said Mr. Delafield, somewhat sternly, “don’t be foolish. If Halbert asked Miss Lee if she liked me, wasn’t it the most natural thing in the world for her to say ‘Yes.’ I do wish you’d rid yourself of the impression that every girl who looks at me is in love with me, or that I am in love with every lady to whom I choose to be polite.” “Do you think Miss Lee pretty?” asked Mrs. Lansing, without paying any attention to his last remark. Up to this point I could not well help overhearing their conversation, for I was arranging my hair before the mirror which stood near the window; but now there was no longer any necessity for my remaining there, and I resolutely walked away, though I would have given much to have heard his answer. He had gone home when I went down to the breakfast-room, where I found Mrs. Lansing, who greeted me rather coldly, and appeared slightly embarrassed. I had purposely donned my travelling dress, for though Mr. Delafield had said I was to stay, I felt that she too must do the same ere I had a right to remain. The sight of my dress seemed to annoy her, for it brought to her cheeks two bright red spots which grew deeper all the while we were at breakfast. When it was over, and the children had gone out, I very composedly asked her “how long before the stage would call for me.” Turning her flashing black eyes upon me, she said, “Do you mean to insult me, Miss Lee? The stage has been gone an hour. I supposed you knew you were to remain.” “Mr. Delafield intimated as much,” I answered; “but my engagement was with _you_, not _him_, and until I hear from you that I am expected to stay, I do not of course feel at liberty to do so.”