Mrs. Dennison treated me to another flash from her scornful eyes, then added,-- "And while I was picking flowers, who should pass but Mr. Lawrence; so I made him stop. But I might as well have let him go on." "Why so?" demanded Mr. Lee. "Because he was very ungallant; did nothing but talk of Jessie, and never said a pretty thing to me." Jessie blushed, but the smile on her lips showed that she was far from annoyed. "So that is all my secret," continued Mrs. Dennison. "Now, we will take this unfortunate bouquet up to Mrs. Lee. Come, Jessie." "May I go?" asked the gentleman. "If you will be very good. But mind you do not tease for the flowers--we cannot spare a single one!" "I promise." "Then come with us." CHAPTER XXXI. LOTTIE'S ADVICE. Mrs. Dennison had one arm about Jessie's waist; she kept Mr. Lee close at her side, and so engrossed and fascinated both father and daughter, that they passed on without remembering that I was there. It was just what the woman intended: she wished to make me feel of how little consequence I was in the house when she chose to exercise her supremacy. That was her way of revenging herself for my rude speech in regard to her ramble. If it is absolutely necessary for me to tell the entire and exact truth, I must admit that she succeeded perfectly in wounding me. I was greatly pained, but not altogether from jealousy or sensitiveness. Hurt as I was to see how completely my friends were made to forget their solicitude at that woman's bidding, I was still more troubled to perceive how, every day, her influence in that house increased, how artfully she wove the threads of her net about us, and entangled everybody more helplessly in its meshes. While I stood thinking of those things, I was startled by a sound close at hand--a very singular noise, such as one might expect from an antiquated raven troubled with bronchitis. From behind a screen that stood in the hall bounded Miss Lottie, emitting another of those unearthly croaks, and stationing herself directly in front of me with one of her most impish looks. "I am astonished at you!" said she, shaking her head, and pursing up her lips until her words came out in a sort of strangled whistle. "I really am more astonished, Miss Hyde, than I should be to see two Christmases come in the same year!" "What is the matter now?" I asked, laughing in spite of myself. "To think of your going and trying to circumvent Babylon! Why, she's almost more'n a match for me, and to see you floppin' up at her quite took my breath away!" "You are impertinent, Lottie!" "Well, I don't mean to be! But just let me caution you a trifle. Don't try any such game--she'll only fling it back right in your teeth, as she did just now, sail off with her feathers spread, and leave you feeling as flat as a pancake!" I had an internal conviction that Lottie was correct in her judgment; but not considering it necessary to admit as much, I made an effort to turn the subject.