I felt grateful to him for remembering her, and went away at once. As I passed toward the hall, I saw Jessie at the piano surrounded by a group of gentlemen, Lawrence nearest, turning over the music, and talking to her at intervals. Mrs. Dennison was flitting about like a gorgeous butterfly, making merriment and pleasant conversation wherever she went. Her quick eyes detected me as I passed the music-room door. She moved along, smelling carelessly at her flowers, the sight of which made me sick; they were roses from the choicest varieties that Mrs. Lee considered peculiarly her own. "Going to preserve your bloom by an early sleep, Miss Hyde?" she asked, pleasantly. "I am going to sit with Mrs. Lee," I replied, coldly enough, I dare say. I was not accustomed to dissimulation, and when I disliked and doubted a person as I did her, it was very difficult for me to conceal it. "You are quite the guardian-angel of the house," she returned, so sweetly that no one except a suspicious creature like me would have perceived the covert insult under her words; "I expect every day to see you unfold your wings and fly off." "This is my home," I answered, quietly, "so I shall not fly very far from it in all probability." She laughed in her charming way; but there was an expression in her eyes which would have startled me, had I not felt that she was powerless to do me personal injury. "And a pleasant home you have," she said, with a sigh; "you can't think, Miss Hyde, how delightful it seems to a tired worldling like me." I was in no humor to listen to sentiment, and I replied curtly,-- "Not tired, Mrs. Dennison, or, of course, you would forsake the society that wearies you." She shook her head patronizingly and smiled, oh, such a sweet, sad smile--she must have practised for days to attain such perfection in it. "How innocent you are!" she said; "I envy you, dear, kind Miss Hyde!" How I longed to fling back her affectionate epithets with the scorn they deserved; but, of course, that was impossible, so I made a movement to go, trembling all over with repressed indignation. "You are running away from me as usual," she said, reproachfully; "I never get a moment now of your honest, sensible conversation." "I trust you do not suffer much from the loss," was all the answer I made. I know I am not very wise; I do not deny having my share of little vanities; but Mrs. Dennison had not found the road which led to them. "I do indeed," she replied; "but I see you will not believe me." "You have not an exalted opinion of my courtesy, Mrs. Dennison." "Ah, now you are going to be sarcastic--my dear Miss Hyde, that is not in your way." She added a few more playful words, then I was resolute to go. I left her standing there in one of her graceful attitudes, playing negligently with her roses.