"You always are," said Lady Bell, coolly. "I repeat, I have seen an angel. You are always trying to flatter me by talking of my beauty and such nonsense; but I have seen today a real beauty. Not a mere pretty pet mortal like myself, but one of the celestials! With eyes like a wild bird's, and a lady, too, I'll be sworn!" "My dear Bell, what language!" murmured Mrs. Fellowes. "A perfect lady; her hands, her voice would vouch for that. Her voice is like a harp. If I had been a man I should have fallen in love with her on the spot." "Fallen in love," said Mrs. Fellowes. "My dear Bell," with a politely suppressed yawn, "I am half inclined to think you have taken leave of your senses, and you will drive me out of mine. One night it is a young man whom we nearly run over; a--I must say--a tipsy young man." "No; he had only taken too much wine." "Well, if that isn't being tipsy----" "Don't, don't," said Lady Bell, pleadingly; "we might have killed him." "I don't know that he would have been much loss to the world at large," said Mrs. Fellowes. "Home!" said Lady Bell to the footman; and she sank back with a brilliant flush on her face. Mrs. Davenant drove home also, and in considerable perturbation. What had she done? What would Stephen say? Fortunately for that young man's peace of mind, he was resting at ease at Hurst Leigh, little dreaming that Lady Bell, or any one else, would meet Una, and coax her out of his mother's nerveless hands. Una, with quick sympathy, saw that her companion was distressed, and with a gentle touch of her hand, said: "You do not like me to go to this lady's house. I will not go. No; I will not go." "My dear," she replied, with a sigh, "it isn't in our hands now. You don't know Lady Bell--nor do I very well; but I know enough of her to be convinced that if you do not go tomorrow night, she would come and fetch you, though she left all her guests to do so." "Is she then so--so accustomed to having her own way?" "Always; she always has her own way. She is rich--very, very rich--and petted; and she is even more than that; she--she--I don't know how to explain myself. Well, my dear, she is a sort of queen of society, and more powerful than many real queens." "So that when she commands such as I am I must obey," said Una, with her low, musical laugh. "Just so," said Mrs. Davenant, with a sigh. "But you will be careful, my dear. I mean, don't--don't let her put you forward, remind her of her promise to keep you at her side." "I think I would rather not go." "Don't be frightened, my dear," said Mrs. Davenant, kindly; but Una's calm, steady look of response showed her that there was no fear in the young, innocent heart. "No, I am not frightened," she said. "I do not know what I am to fear."