The Toxteth mansion lay halfway between Dr. Sanford's and Mullen House, as was somewhat fancifully called the home of Ease. Will asked Ease to wait for him, as he was going with her after an extra play-book. Mrs. Toxteth was sitting upon the veranda, and invited Ease to a seat by her side while the young men went into the house. "It makes me think of old times when theatricals come up," Mrs. Toxteth said. "I have always been extravagantly fond of acting and of masquerades." "I wish we could have a masquerade," remarked Ease. "We have only had one in three years." "Why not have one, then?" "The girls say it is so much trouble to get up costumes. It is a bother, it is so difficult to get things." "But now when you have your costumes all made for the plays, why not use them? You could arrange to exchange among yourselves." "The very thing!" Ease exclaimed. "I am so glad you thought of it." "As a reward," Mrs. Toxteth said, "I claim the privilege of giving the party. But don't speak of it just yet until I've talked with Clarence." "Will," Ease asked as they walked towards Mullen House, "how long does Flossy mean to stay in Montfield? I am getting so fond of her that I don't like to think of her going back to Boston." "'It may be for years, and it may be forever,'" he replied. "The case is just this. Flossy's father--you know there's nobody left in the family but these two now--cares for nothing in the world but his dinners and whist, as far as I can make out. I don't know Uncle Christopher very well, but he has the reputation of giving the best dinners of any man in his club. He had one once when I was there; and such a set of red-nosed, blear-eyed, pottle-paunched"-- "Will!" "I beg your pardon, but the old sinners that came to that dinner were enough to disgust anybody. They were like the people Paul tells about, each carrying his own individual god under his waistcoat. No wonder Flossy doesn't care to stay at home to dine with those ogres." "It can't be very nice for her." "No more is it. She likes to stay here, and we certainly like to have her. As for her father, if his soup and his wines are right he is troubled by no concern for the whereabouts of his friends. So, on the whole, I dare say she may remain indefinitely." "Don't you think she and Burleigh Blood are getting to be very good friends?" "I hadn't noticed. I thought he was one of Patty's followers." "He isn't so much so now," Ease answered. "To-day at rehearsal he called her Flossy, and then colored and stammered and begged her pardon. I don't believe he ever did it before." She was right; for at that very moment Burleigh Blood was walking along a sweet country road, saying softly over and over to his bashful but happy self: "Flossy, Flossy. And she said I was always to call her so. Flossy: what a pretty name it is too!" CHAPTER XIV. AN ELOPEMENT.