She flashed a glance at Usk which intoxicated him with delight, and nothing was further from his mind than the idea that her answer might be literally true. “All right. I’ll take it in instalments,” he said joyously. “_Un peu--beaucoup--point_--no, that’s not what I meant. What an idiot I am! You care for me, and that’s enough.” “Yes, but Maimie don’t,” said Félicia dolorously. “Oh, bother Maimie! No, I don’t mean that either. Of course she can’t bear losing you. But we’ll both be awfully nice to her, won’t we? Now that my mind is at rest about you, I’ll cultivate her--make up to her, in fact.” “Not while I’m around, if you please.” “Now is it likely--if you were anywhere near?” “I guess I’ll go and tell her,” said Félicia. “Isn’t that your parents coming in from their ride? You go and have an affecting meeting with them, and break the news, and I’ll do likewise.” Maimie was indoors, kept in by a bad cold, which she had caught when called out of bed one night to prescribe remedies for Félicia’s headache. Nothing could possibly have been better timed than that cold, Félicia thought complacently, though she had shown a strong sense of injury when it had prevented Maimie from coming out with her. She dashed upstairs and into Maimie’s room, and shot her bolt. “Wake up, Maimie! Usk’s come back, and we are engaged!” Maimie dropped her book and turned absolutely white. Then she stood up and came slowly towards Félicia, who cowered before her. “Félicia Steinherz, I could kill you where you stand!” “How you look, Maimie! What do you mean?” asked Félicia feebly. “Why have you done it, any way?” demanded Maimie. “Why, I like Usk well enough, and I must have a man to trail me around.” “Do you know who’s coming here next week?” fiercely. “Oh, just some brother of Lord Caerleon’s and his wife.” “Why, certainly. Do you know how many brothers he has?” “Well, I guess there must be two, any way--this Lord Cyril and the Count Mortimer that Mr Hicks talks about all the time.” “I do admire to see a girl real smart! You’ve listened pretty well, haven’t you?” “I don’t see but I’ve listened well enough. Lord Caerleon couldn’t expect me do more than look interested, and interrupt just right.” “I’d have felt like boxing your ears if I’d been Lord Caerleon.” “No, Maimie, you wouldn’t. It’s real sweet of me to have him talk to me, and he knows it. You’re fallen in love with him, because he cavaliers you around just the same as he does me, but that’s no reason why I should.” And Maimie was crushed for the time.