"And you'll have _no_ little girl to put a lump of sugar in your after-dinner coffee, Captain," said Adelaide, impressing the merits of her methods. "And no little girl to bring you a lighted taper for your cigar," chimed in Geraldine. "It's _my_ turn to-day, Ger'ldine," cried the enterprising Adelaide, springing from her chair to monopolize the precious privilege. "No--no! mine--_mine_! You had it yesterday!" cried Geraldine, racing after her out of the room. "'Twas day before!" protested Adelaide's voice far up the hallway. "You had better get your cigar-case ready, to bestow the boon on the first comer," suggested Mrs. Gwynn. She had entirely recovered her equanimity, as he perceived. The state of his unsought affections was naught to her. The wreck of his heart--she had known wrecked hearts for a more bitter cause! Doubtless she thought the pain transitory in his case; already its contemplation seemed to have passed from her mind like a tale that is told. She was sedately suave as always, barely attentive, preoccupied, her usual manner, so incongruous with her youth and beauty, so at variance with her attire from the old wardrobe of by-gone days,--the fresh white lawn, flecked with light blue, the ruffles finished with "footing," and with a bobinet scarf about her throat, wherein was thrust a pin of a single rose carved in coral. She was like some dainty maiden, no refugee from the world, sad and widowed. She led the way to the library, partly to see that the "ladies" did not set themselves aflame as their short skirts flickered about the small dully burning fire, still lighted night and morning against the chill of the crisp vernal air. They were, indeed, leaping back and forth over the fender with some temerity, and Baynell, seating himself by the table, his cigar between his teeth, thought it best to dispose of both the lighted spills by not drawing at all till both were alternately offered and the extinction of each secured. Then, as the "ladies" flew back to the dining room and out to the parterre, having volunteered to gather the rest of the flowers for the vases, Leonora and Baynell were left for the time together. It gratified him to perceive that she did not fear the introduction of the subject anew. She experienced not even a momentary embarrassment. She understood him so well, and the plane of his emotion. The early morning sunshine was in the cheerful library windows; a mocking-bird on a vine outside swayed so close, as he sang, that his shadow continually flickered over the sill; the flowers were all freshly abloom, and Mrs. Gwynn was standing on the opposite side of the table, her hands full of the spring blossoms that lay already on a tray, preparing to fill the great blue and white Wedgwood bowl.