Of course Aunt Charlotte was delighted, and after assuring her of the fact, she suddenly remembered our presence, and introduced us to the lady as “Mr. Lee’s nieces from the country.” Not an instant did the large brownish black eyes rest on me, for I was of little importance compared with Anna, who the Thursday night previous had made her first appearance in society, where her sweet face and fresh, unstudied manners had produced something of a sensation, which had undoubtedly reached the ear of the reigning belle. What her thoughts were as she scanned my sister from head to foot, I do not know; but as I watched her, I fancied I could detect an expression of mingled scorn and surprise that one so unassuming should awaken an interest in those who were accustomed to pay her homage. When she had satisfied herself with Anna’s personal appearance, she gave me a hasty glance, and then drawing from her reticule a fanciful mat which she was crotcheting, she leaned back among the soft cushions of her chair, and commenced talking to my aunt in a very artless, childish manner, never noticing us in the least, except once when she asked me to pull the bell rope, which was much nearer to her than me. Several times I fancied she seemed to be listening for something, and when at last I heard Herbert’s voice in the hall and saw the deepening flush on her cheek, I was sure that she felt more than a common interest in him. In his usual good-natured, off-hand way he entered the room, tossing into my lap a letter from brother Charlie, and telling Anna that her _beau_ hadn’t yet written; then, as his eye fell upon Ada, he started back in evident surprise. Soon recovering himself, however, he said, as he took the little snowflake of a hand, which she offered him— “Why, Ad, who knew you were here?” “Not you, or you would have come sooner, I reckon;” said she, looking up in his face in a confiding kind of way, which brought a frown to Anna’s brow. “Maybe I shouldn’t have come so soon,” he replied laughingly, at the same time stealing a sidelong glance at Anna. “Here, sit right down by me,” said Miss Montrose, as she saw him looking for a seat. “I want to scold you for not calling on me oftener when I was sick. You don’t know how neglected I felt. Why didn’t you come, hey?” And she playfully pulled his hair, allowing her hand to remain some time among his wavy locks. This was a kind of coquetry entirely new to me, and I looked on in amazement, while Anna, more disturbed than she was willing to acknowledge, left the room. When she was gone, Ada said, letting her hand fall from Herbert’s head to his arm, “Tell me, is that the _Lee girl_, who attracted so much attention at Mrs. G——’s party?” There was a look of gratified pride on Herbert’s face as he answered, “Yes—the same—don’t you think her pretty?”