"I'll tell her what I choose! Gray, say something! You sit there like a mummy, while these people are insulting me right and left! Tell Anita that I am right in not wishing her to deal me good cards purposely." "But she didn't," declared Haviland; "you know she didn't. Why, she couldn't, even if she wanted to!" "Oh, yes, she could!" and Miss Carrington gave a disagreeable sneer. "She's quite clever enough for any deceit or treachery." "Stop, Cousin Lucy! I can't let you talk so about Miss Frayne in my presence!" "Oh, you can't, can't you? And, pray, what right have you to defend her? Go away, both of you! I'll play with you no longer. Go away and send Pauline and Mr. Illsley in here. They, at least, will play fair." Anita Frayne rose without a word. Haviland rose too, but talking volubly. "Let up, Cousin Lucy," he said sternly. "You've no right to treat Miss Frayne so. You ought to apologize to her for such rudeness." "Apologize!" Miss Carrington fairly shrieked; "she'll do the apologizing, and you, too, my foolish young cousin. You little know what's going to happen to me! To-morrow you may sing another song!" Haviland looked at her in astonishment; the Count, thoughtfully. The same idea was in both their minds. Could she mean that she was expecting the Count to propose to her that evening? "Nothing nice can happen to you unless you learn to control that temper of yours," and Haviland swung away after Anita. He found her in the next room, nestled in the corner of a big davenport, weeping into a sympathetic sofa-cushion. "Go and find the others," she whispered, as he came near her. "Make them go and play with her!" Obediently, Haviland went. In the glassed sun-parlor he found Pauline Stuart, Miss Carrington's niece, and Stephen Illsley, one of the most favored of Pauline's many suitors. "For goodness' sake, people," he began, "do go and play bridge with the Lady of the Manor! She's in a peach of a fury, and you'll have to take your life in your hands, but _go_!" "I won't," said Pauline, bluntly; "It's Anita's turn to-night. She said she'd do it." "She did! But she came off second best, and she's weeping buckets on the best Empire embroidery sofa-cushions! I'm going to comfort her, but you must go and keep the gentle Lucy from pulling the house down about our ears! She's sure queering herself with his nibs! He can't admire her sweet, flower-like soul after this night's exhibition." "I don't want to go a bit, but I suppose we'll have to," and Pauline smiled at her guest. "Oh, go on," said Haviland, as he turned to leave them; "and, for Heaven's sake, give her all the good cards. Can you manage that, Illsley?" "I am afraid not. Her eyes are too sharp." "Well, if her luck stays bad, get her to play mumble-peg or something, instead of bridge." Haviland disappeared and Pauline rose unwillingly. "I do so hate to play with Aunt Lucy," she said, "but it must be done. Are you willing to sacrifice yourself?"