Mr. Marlboro's eyes glistened like a topaz in the sun; but just then a new guest arriving demanded Mr. St. George's attention. Meantime Eloise had found a feminine conclave assembled in her room, all having prepared their own toilets, and ready to inspect the preparation of hers; and as the work proceeded, Lottie Humphreys added herself to the group, in grand _tenue_, and pushed Hazel aside, that she might bind up Eloise's already braided hair, and indulge herself in the interim with sundry fervent ejaculations. "Isn't he splendid?" whispered Lottie, while Laura compared bracelets with Emma Houghton. "Oh, there, isn't he splendid? It's like the king coming down from his throne, when he speaks to you; it puts my heart in a flutter. How do you dare ask him to pass the butter? Now just tell _me_. Are you engaged to him? Tell me truly, only shake your head, yes or no. No? I don't believe a word you say. Mean to be? Then, I declare----Suppose now, only just suppose, suppose he'd look at me?" "Oh, what a silly little goose you are, Lottie Humphreys! And you've put geraniums in my hair, when I meant to wear those beautiful blue poison-bells!" "I never saw any one so dark as you are wear so much blue." "But it's becoming to me, isn't it?" said Eloise, turning with her smile, as radiant for Lottie as for Marlboro'. "St. George," said Marlboro', with a beaming face bent over his shoulder, as he took Eloise out to dinner, "my intention was the earlier; it will succeed!" "As being the eldest born and heir to the succession. Does the good general expose his campaign?" "There we are quits. It is precisely as a good general that I exposed it." "But did the Levites unveil the sacred ark?" said Mr. St. George, severely. "We are talking freemasonry, Miss Changarnier," said Marlboro', and they moved on. * * * * *