Nobody enlightened her, and the talk passed on to other subjects. The truce held till the ladies left the table. Then began an examination in detail of the various articles in the room which did not come strictly under the head of furniture; and indeed they were somewhat tempting. For the walls were hung with engravings, there were one or two nice bits of marble and bronze, and a number of small useful things which were at the same time made to be beautiful as well. Primrose sat down to study a fine copy of the "Shadow of the Cross." 'Do these pictures all belong to the house?' Mrs. Coles asked. 'None of them,' Wych Hazel answered, standing behind Prim's chair. 'But what a quantity! Have Dane and you been picking all these up?' 'Picking up—choosing—what you will.' 'My dear!'— There was a good deal of unspoken thoughts half uttered in the exclamation, and Mrs. Coles then went on.—'But why don't he have them in better frames? These are very common, it seems to me.' 'You think they do not suit the pictures?' 'The pictures are valuable, are they not?—Dane would not have them, I know, if they were not worth a lot of money; and the frames—my dear, just look at the frames; little slips of wood frames, or passepartouts; nothing better. There is not a gilt one here.' 'No,' said Wych Hazel. 'Look, Prim, how well the plain dark wood sets off this old cathedral.' 'My dear! don't you think gold would set if off better?' But then she changed the subject. 'Have you been very gay lately, Hazel?' Hazel's thoughts were fast getting into a fight. She answered rather absently,—'I? No.' 'Did you go to Mrs. Schornstein's reception?' 'No, Mrs. Coles.' 'Weren't you invited?' 'O yes,' said Wych Hazel, facing round now. 'I was invited. And I have been invited everywhere else. And I have staid at home. Now _I_ shall have the honour of surprising you.' 'My dear!'—said Mrs. Coles, thinking it was not the first time. 'Prim had a letter from Kitty that told us about the Schornstein's reception, and we thought to be sure you would be there. Why didn't you go? there, and everywhere else?' Wych Hazel knit her brows, but then she laughed. 'Prim is so glad, that she forgets to be curious,' she said. "And Mrs. Coles is so curious that she forgets to be glad. Why should I have gone?— there, or anywhere—if you please?' 'My dear!—Society.' 'Yes, ma'am,' said Wych Hazel, meekly waiting for particulars. 'You will offend Society.' 'Shall I? But suppose I have no time to keep Society in good humour?' 'My dear, that won't do. A honeymoon is all very well; but at this rate you will lose all your friends.' 'That would seem to indicate that my friends can do without me. Very mortifying, if true.' 'But Hazel, every one knows it is true in Society. If you do not let yourself be seen, people will not keep you in mind.'