“You won’t fall, dear aunt—you never do!” “I nearly did last time, minx!” “Because you wriggled, aunt.” “I’ll ha’ this hateful thing destroyed!” cried the Duchess, striking the huge piece of furniture with a ridiculously small, white hand. “Then I shall buy a bigger!” quoth my lady. “Then I’ll leave thee, thou vixenish child!” “But you’d come back to me, thou dear little loved aunt.” “Aye, I should, thou great amiable wretch. Now pray lift me down like the sweet, gentle soul thou art, Herminia.” “Am I brawny, aunt?” “Thou’rt a fairy elf! Take me down, child.” “As for fighting, aunt——” “Thou couldst not, wouldst not, thou’rt too maidenly, too tender, too gentle ... take me down!” “But indeed, aunt, you know I can fence better than most men—aye, as well as Sir John Dering himself, I’ll wager.” “That wretch! Pray lift me down, Herminia, dear.” “’Faith, aunt, perched so, you look like a girl o’ fifteen!” “And I’m woman of forty-five——” “With scarce a white hair and never a wrinkle!” “Indeed, child, I can feel ’em growing as I sit here, so prithee, my sweet love, lift me——” But at this moment was a hurried knock and Mrs. Betty entered, cheeks flushed and mild eyes wider than usual. “O my lady!” she exclaimed—“Company!” “Betty,” cried the Duchess, “come and take me down—this moment!” “Oh, I dessent, your Grace.... O mem, there be company below ... ladies, mem—crowds, and gentlemen!” “Ah!” cried my lady between clenched teeth, “so they’re here already—to tear and rend me, dammem!” “Herminia!” cried the Duchess, scandalised. “Herminia, fie! Herminia, for shame! I gasp, child! Such language, miss——” “Fits the occasion, aunt, so tush—and hush! Who’s below, Betty—the women, I mean?” “Well, mem, I only got a glimp’, but I ’spied my Lady Belinda Chalmers for one——” “That detestable rattle! Who else?” “My Lady Prudence Bassett was with her, mem.” “That backbiting vixen! And Mrs. Joyce Mildmay is with ’em, I’ll vow?” “Yes, mem——” “’Tis this devilish _Monitor_ hath brought ’em upon me, and they’re here to condole with me—the wretches!” “But I’m with ye, child!” quoth the Duchess from her lofty perch, whence my lady hasted to lift her forthwith, holding her suspended in mid-air a moment to kiss her furiously ere she set her gently down.