"Well, I don't think," emphasizing each word with a most solemn nod, "it would come off your moustache in a hurry." "I'll risk it, anyhow," says Luttrell, stooping suddenly to impress a fervent kiss upon the little powdered fingers he is holding. "Oh! how wrong, how extremely wrong of you!" exclaims Miss Massereene, as successfully shocked as though the thought that he might be tempted to such a deed has never occurred to her. Yet, true to her nature, she makes no faintest pretense at withdrawing from him her hand until a full minute has elapsed. Then, unable longer to restrain herself, she bursts into a merry laugh,--a laugh all sweetest, clearest music. "If you could only see how funny you look!" cries she. "You are fair with a vengeance now. Ah! do go and see for yourself." Giving him a gentle push toward an ancient glass that hangs disconsolately near the clock, and thereby leaving another betraying mark upon the shoulder of his coat. Luttrell, having duly admired himself and given it as his opinion that though flour on the arms may be effective, flour on the face is not, has barely time to wipe his moustache free of it when Mrs. Massereene enters. "You here," exclaims she, staring at Tedcastle, "of all places in the world! I own I am amazed. Oh, if your brother officers could only see you now, and your coat all over flour! I need hardly inquire if this is Molly's doing. Poor boy!" with a laugh. "It is a shame. Molly, you are never happy unless you are tormenting some one." "But I always make it up to them afterward: don't I, now, Letty?" murmurs Molly, sweetly, speaking to Letitia, but directing a side-glance at Luttrell from under her long, dark lashes: this side-glance is almost a promise. "Well, so you have come at last, Letty. And how did you enjoy your 'nice, long, happy day in the country,' as the children say?" "Very much, indeed,--far more than I expected. The Mitchells were there, which added a little to our liveliness." "And my poor old mummy, was he there? And is he still holding together?" "Lord Rossmere? He is indeed, and was asking most tenderly for you. I never saw him look so well." "Oh! it grows absurd," says Molly, in disgust. "How much longer does he intend keeping up the farce? He _must_ fall to pieces soon." "He hasn't a notion of it," says Letitia, warming to her description; "he has taken a new lease of his life. He looked only too well,--positively ten years younger. I think myself he was 'done up.' I could see his coat was padded; and he has adorned his head with a very sleek brown wig." "Jane," says Molly, weakly, "be so good as to stand close behind me. I feel as if I were going to faint directly." "Law, miss!" says Jane, giving way to her usual expletive. She is a clean and worthy soul where pots and pans are concerned, but apart from them can scarcely be termed eloquent.