“Yes, you can tell us the best way to——” “Thank you, Miss Mitford, I can’t come. I have my orders and I am leaving to-night.” “Now, that won’t do at all,” said the girl, pouting. “You went to Mamie Jones’ party; I don’t see why you should treat me like this.” “Mamie Jones!” said Thorne. “Why, that was last Thursday, and now I have got orders, I tell you, and——” But Caroline was not to be put off. “Now, there’s no use talking about it,” she said vehemently. “Yes, I see that.” “Didn’t you promise to obey orders when I gave them? Well, these are orders.” “Another set,” laughed Thorne. “I don’t know anything about any others. These are mine.” “Well, but this time——” “This time is just the same as all the other times, only worse; besides I told her you would be there.” “What’s that?” “I say she expects you, that’s all.” “Who expects me?” “Why, Edith, of course; who do you suppose I was talking about all this time?” “Oh, she expects me to——” “Why, of course, she does. You are to take her over. You needn’t stay if you don’t want to. Now I will go and tell her you are waiting.” “Oh, very well,” said Thorne, smiling; “if she expects me to take her over I will do so, of course, but I can’t stay a moment.” “Well,” said Caroline, “I thought you would come to your senses some time or another. See here, Mr. Captain, was she ’most ready?” “Well, how do I know.” “What dress did she have on?” “Dress?” “Oh, you men! Why, she’s only got two.” “Yes; well, very likely, this was one of them, Miss Mitford.” “No matter, I am going upstairs to see, anyway. Captain Thorne, you can wait out there on the veranda or, perhaps, it would be pleasanter if you were to smoke a cigar out in the summerhouse at the side of the garden. It is lovely there in the moonlight, and——” “I know, but if I wait right here——” “Those are my orders. It’s cooler outside, you know, anyway, and——” “Pardon me, Miss Mitford, orders never have to be explained, you know,” interrupted the Captain, smiling at the charming girl. “That’s right; I take back the explanation,” she said, as Thorne stepped toward the window; “and, Captain,” cried the girl. “Yes?” “Be sure and smoke.” Thorne laughed, as he lighted his cigar and stepped out onto the porch, and thence into the darkness of the garden path. “Oh,” said Caroline to herself, “he is splendid. If Wilfred were only like that!” she pouted. “But then—our engagement’s broken off anyway, so what’s the difference. If he were like that—I’d—— No!—I don’t think I’d——” Her soliloquy was broken by the entrance of Mrs. Varney, who came slowly down the room. “Why, Caroline dear! What are you talking about, all to yourself?” “Oh—just—I was just saying, you know—that—why, I don’t know what I was—— Do you think it is going to rain?” she returned in great confusion. “Dear me, child; I haven’t thought about it. Why, what have you got on? Is that a new dress, and in Richmond?”