She went back to the dressing room to tell Isabel that her aunt had gone, but the room was empty. CHAPTER NINETEEN. MARIA CAUSES TROUBLE. "For two pins I'd have our things packed up and go back at once, Dan; that I would," cried Saxa Lydon, as she stood before the long cheval glass in the best bedroom at the Elthornes'. "Here, you, give me that pin off the dressing table." The first words were in a low tone to her sister, the latter to Maria Bell, who was playing the part of lady's maid to the two visitors dressing for dinner; but from a keen interest in the state of affairs, Maria's ears were preternaturally sharp, and she heard the first words as well. A handsome diamond pin was fetched and handed to the speaker, who thrust it into the knot of abundant hair, where it glistened like so much dew. "The place doesn't seem the same," said Dana, who had finished dressing and lay back in a chair, arranging and rearranging the folds of her dress. "Hold your tongue," whispered her sister. "We don't want everyone to know." She looked significantly at the maid, who, with a most discreet air, ignored everything and went on folding and hanging up dresses in the wardrobe. "I don't care who hears!" said Dana. "I'm sick of it. I wouldn't have come if it hadn't been for the poor old man." "Nor I," said Saxa, whose anger was getting the better of her discretion. "Anyone would think we were perfect strangers; why, Burwood is ten times as attentive." "To you," said Dana spitefully. "No, he is not; it is to you. If I were you, I'd give Master Alison such a lesson to-night! I'd flirt with Burwood till I made him half mad with jealousy." "That's the advice I was thinking of giving you," said Dana with a sneer. "He is always at your heels, or wanting to help you mount or dismount." "Oh, come, I like that," said Saxa, whose face was now scarlet, and she frowned as she gazed at her sister's reflection in the glass instead of at her own and the bracelets she was attaching to her well-shaped arms. "He was riding by your side all day yesterday." "Look here," said Dana coldly, "if you want to quarrel send away the maid. I don't want Burwood. You can have him." "Thank you. But you might tell the truth." "Don't be a fool!" said Dana, and then, hurriedly, "Hush! don't let's quarrel here. But it's too bad; anyone would think we were nobody at all, and that the boys were not at home." "Don't be a fool yourself," whispered Saxa, leaning forward and offering a cut glass bottle. Then, aloud, "Scent?" and again, in a low voice, "That minx's ears are like a fox's." "Thanks," said Dana, taking the bottle and using it liberally. "Here, what's-your-name? Maria, have a drop of scent?" "Oh, thank you, miss," cried the maid eagerly. "No; don't take it now," said Saxa, replacing the scent on the table. "You may empty the bottle when you pack up our things to-morrow." "Oh, thank you, Miss Lydon." "Got quite well and strong again?"