"And the bonbon shops!" pursued Mrs. Castlemaine. "I do count much on seeing the bonbon shops: they must be a sight in themselves. And the lovely bonnets!--and the jewellery! What is it that Paris has been called?--the Paradise of women?" "May I go too?" asked Ethel with animation, these attractive allusions calling up reminiscences of her own sojourn in Paris. "No," curtly replied Mrs. Castlemaine. "Oh, mamma! Why, you will be glad of me to take you about and to speak French for you!" "I shall go, mamma," quickly spoke up Flora, her mouth full of cake. "You told me I should, you know." "We will see, my darling," said Mrs. Castlemaine, not daring to be too self-asserting just then; though her full intention was to take Flora if she could contrive it by hook or by crook. "A trip to Paris would be an excellent thing for you," she added for the benefit of Mr. Castlemaine: "it would improve your French accent and form your manners. I'll see, my dear one." Mr. Castlemaine gave a quiet nod and smile to Ethel, as much as to say, "I will see for you." In fact he had all along meant Ethel to be of the party; though he would certainly do his best to leave Miss Flora at home. At this moment Flora ought to be practising, instead of greedily eating of every dessert dish within her reach: but oughts did not go for much with Miss Flora Castlemaine. They might have gone for nothing but for Madame Guise. That lady, rising now from her chair, with a deprecatory bow to Mrs. Castlemaine for permission, reminded her pupil that she and the piano were both waiting her pleasure. "I don't want to have a music lesson this afternoon; I don't want to practise," grumbled Flora. "As you did not get your studies over this morning in sufficient time to take your lesson or to practise before dinner, you must do both now," spoke Madame in her steady way. And Mr. Castlemaine gave the young lady a nod of authority, from which she knew there might be no appeal. "In a minute, papa. Please let me finish my orange." She was pushing the quarters of an orange into her month with the silver fork. Just then Miles came into the room and addressed his master. "You are wanted, sir, if you please." "Who is it?" asked Mr. Castlemaine. "I don't know, sir. Some oldish gentleman; a stranger. He asked----"