'I think he is rather spooney, I must say,' said Katie; whereupon Mrs. Woodward went on reading. "'It's a sweet thing, isn't it?' said Macassar. "'Oh, very!' said Crinoline, with a rapturous expression which pervaded her whole head and shoulders as well as her face and bust--'very sweet, and so new.' "'It quite comes home to me,' said Macassar, and he sighed deeply. "'Then it is at his office,' said Crinoline to herself; and she sighed also. "They both sat silent for a while, looking into the square--Crinoline was at one window, and Macassar at the other: 'I must go now,' said he: 'I promised to be back at three.' "'Back where?' said she. "'At my office,' said he. "Crinoline sighed. After all, it was at his office; it was too evident that it was there, and nowhere else. Well, and why should it not be there? why should not Macassar Jones be true to his duty and to his country? What had she to do with his heart? Why should she wish it elsewhere? 'Twas thus she tried to console herself, but in vain. Had she had an office of her own it might perhaps have been different; but Crinoline was only a woman; and often she sighed over the degradation of her lot. "'Good morning, Miss Crinoline,' said he. "'Good morning, Mr. Macassar,' said she; 'mamma will so regret that she has lost the pleasure of seeing you.' "And then she rung the bell. Macassar went downstairs perhaps somewhat slower, with perhaps more of melancholy than when he entered. The page opened the hall-door with alacrity, and shut it behind him with a slam. "All honour to the true and brave! "Crinoline again took up the note of her sorrow, and with her lute in her hand, she warbled forth the line which stuck like a thorn in her sweet bosom:-- His heart is in his office--his heart IS ALWAYS _there_." 'There,' said Mrs. Woodward, 'that's the end of the first chapter.' 'Well, I like the page the best,' said Linda, 'because he seems to know what he is about.' 'Oh, so does the lady,' said Charley; 'but it wouldn't at all do if we made the hero and heroine go about their work like humdrum people. You'll see that the Lady Crinoline knows very well what's what.' 'Oh, Charley, pray don't tell us,' said Katie; 'I do so like Mr. Macassar, he is so spooney; pray go on, mamma.' 'I'm ready,' said Mrs. Woodward, again taking up the manuscript. "CHAPTER II "The lovely Crinoline was the only daughter of fond parents; and though they were not what might be called extremely wealthy, considering the vast incomes of some residents in the metropolis, and were not perhaps wont to mix in the highest circles of the Belgravian aristocracy, yet she was enabled to dress in all the elegance of fashion, and contrived to see a good deal of that society which moves in the highly respectable neighbourhood of Russell Square and Gower Street.