"Do you profess to understand what is becoming to young ladies? Have you been studying them? Come, then, if you are so good a judge, I will ask you to tell me if this hat is so very becoming as they all say. Look well, now, before you decide; it is a question of the utmost importance." This saucy little speech is accompanied by such a bewitching glance from under the said hat that Lord Chandos loses his presence of mind. "I cannot bear to see you flirt so much as you do with every one," he mutters, hastily; "it tortures me. Bebe, why is it?" Miss Beatoun grows decidedly white, even to her lips, yet is still thoroughly composed. "But do I flirt?" she says. "I don't believe I do. Do you believe it, my darling, my treasure, my Tito?" to the dog. "Not you. No, no, Lord Chandos; it is not that at all." "What is it then?" impatiently. "Why, it is 'every one' who flirts with me, to be sure. And that is not my fault, is it?" with the most bewildering assumption of injured innocence. And now we all rise and saunter towards the well. "If you would only wish as I do," whispers Sir George to Dora, "I would be the happiest man alive." "Would you?" says innocent Dora. "But how shall I know what you are longing for?" "Can you not guess?" "I am afraid I cannot. Unless, perhaps--but no, of course it would not be that. Indeed I do not know how to reach your thoughts. One must want so many things." "I want only one." "Only one! Oh, how moderate! Only one! Let me see," with a delicious meditative air, and two slender fingers pressed upon her lips. "Shall I tell you?" "Oh, no, no," with a pretty show of eager fear. "If you told any one the charm would be broken, and you would not get what you want. Perhaps--who knows?--the boon I am going to demand will be the very thing you would tell me." This with a sufficiently tender glance from the lustrous azure eyes. "For my part," says Bebe, wilfully. "I shall wish for something I can never get, just to prove how absurd it all is." "From time to time we every one of us do that," says Chandos. "We hanker after the impossible. I begin to fear I shall never get my heart's desire." He glances expressively at Bebe. "Then think of something else," suggests that young lady, smoothly. "Your second venture may be more successful." "No, I shall keep to my original wish, until I either gain it or else find further hoping folly." "Phyllis, it is your turn now. Will you not descend and court fortune?" calls Harriet. I am deeply engaged listening to mamma while she reads to me Billy's last effusion from Eton, to which place he returned the second day after our ball. "It is a pity to disturb Mrs. Carrington," says Sir Mark. "She told me this morning she had not a wish left ungratified." Marmaduke raises his head quickly, and, flushing warmly turns a pleased and rather surprised glance at me.