And she dismissed him with a beaming smile, with a little pat on his arm as if it had been she who was his lawful proprietor, not Katie. Miss Williamson said nothing for the moment, but she resisted Walter's attempt to direct her towards the picture she had meant to visit. "I think I will go to papa," she said. "I must not detain you, Lord Erradeen, from your--friend." "That doesn't matter," said Walter; "I shall see her again. Let us do what we intended to do. What is the etiquette on such an occasion, Miss Williamson? Would it be correct for me, a mere man, to introduce two ladies to each other? You know I am a novice in society. I look for instruction to you." "I can't tell, I am sure," said Katie. "I don't think the case has occurred to me before. You seem to know the lady very well, Lord Erradeen?" "I have known her almost all my life," Walter replied, not quite at his ease. "We have played together, I suppose. She comes from Sloebury where my mother is living. They have all sorts of fine connections, but they are poor, as you would divine from what she said." "I did not listen to what she said. Conversation not addressed to one's self," said Katie with some severity, "one has nothing to do with. I could see of course that you were on the most friendly terms." "Oh, on quite friendly terms," said Walter; he could not for his life have prevented a little laugh from escaping him, a laugh of consciousness and amusement and embarrassment. And Katie, who was full of suspicion, pricked up her little ears. "I should have said on terms that were more than friendly," she said in a voice that was not without a certain sharp tone. Walter laughed again with that imbecility to which all men are subject when pressed upon such a question. "Can anything be better than friendly?" he said. "Poor Julia! she has a very kind heart. Was not this the picture you wanted to see?" "Oh," cried Katie, "I have forgotten all about the picture! This little incident has put it out of my head. Human interest is superior to art. Perhaps if you had not left Sloebury, if your circumstances had not changed, your friendship might have changed into--something warmer, as people say." "Who can tell?" cried Walter in his vanity; "but in that case we should have been two poverties together, and that you know would never do." "I am no judge," cried Katie; "but at all events you are not a poverty now, and there is no reason--Oh, there is papa; he is talking to _that_ ambassador--but never mind. Patience for another minute, Lord Erradeen, till we can make our way to him, and then you shall go." "But I don't want to go," Walter said. "Oh, that is impossible; when Miss--Julia--I am sure I beg your pardon, for I don't know her other name--was so kind as to tell you where to find her. You must want to get rid of me. Papa, give me your arm; I want to show you something."