"Oh, yes," returned Waveney, eagerly, "everyone thinks Mollie quite lovely. It is such a pity she is lame. It spoils things so much for her, poor darling! But people admire her just the same--in the street they turn round and stare at her; but Mollie never seems to notice them a bit. That reminds me of such a funny speech"--and here Waveney began to laugh. "An old Irishwoman who works for us sometimes, once said to her, 'It is my belief, Miss Mollie darlint, that the Powers above were after fashioning an angel, and then they thought better of it, and changed it into a flesh-and-blood woman. For the angel still laughs out of your eyes, mavourneen.' And would you believe it, Miss Harford, that Mollie only burst out laughing when Biddy said that, but I think it was beautiful." "I must see your pretty Mollie," returned Althea, thoughtfully; "but we must go in now." "I think I must tell Moritz that," she said to herself, with a smile. "'The angel still laughs out of your eyes, mavourneen.' How very like an Irishwoman!" CHAPTER XIII. CONCERNING GUARDIAN ANGELS AND ITHURIEL'S SPEAR. "Though many a year has o'er us roll'd Since life's bright morningtide, I'm dreaming still the dream of old We once dreamt side by side." HELEN MARION BURNSIDE. It had been a long, trying day to Waveney, and it was a great relief when she found herself again in the Pansy Room. It was still early in the evening; but as soon as the door had closed upon the girl Althea rose from her chair. "I have had a tiring afternoon, Dorrie," she said, in rather a weary voice. "A well-dressed crush always flattens me--so many smart bonnets, and so few brains! Somehow society always reminds me of a trifle, all sweetness and froth." "Aren't you a little mixed, Althea?" returned her sister, good-humouredly. "There is froth certainly, but in my experience there is plenty of richness and sweetness underneath, if you only dig deep enough." "Oh, I daresay;" and then a droll idea came to Althea, and she laughed softly. "Don't you remember the gingerbread queens that we used to buy when we were children at the Medhurst Fair, and how angry I was when some one stripped the gilt off. I thought it was real gold--like Nebuchadnezzar's image. Well, some of those fine ladies reminded me of the gingerbread queens." Doreen looked amused. "You are in a pessimistic mood, dear." Then she put her hands on her sister's shoulders and scrutinised her face a little anxiously. "You are very tired. Are your eyes paining you, Althea?" "No, dear, but I think I shall go to bed."